The conviction of Rappler head Maria Ressa for cyber libel should be respected even as President Duterte continues to support freedom of the press, Malacañang declared yesterday.
“Ang unang-unang paninindigan ng Pangulo ay ito ay isang kaso na nilitis ng ating hukuman, respetuhin natin ang desiyon ng hukuman,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said during a Palace press briefing.
Roque maintained that the President has never been involved in any attempt to curtail press freedom in the country.
He said the President has not filed any libel case against journalist during his many years in public service. He said Duterte believes that government officials should not be “onion-skinned” and instead must face criticisms from public especially from the media.
“Paulit-ulit na sinabi ni Presidente na ni minsan na hindi siya naghain ng kasong libel sa kahit kaninong nabubwisit siya peryodista. Naniniwala siya sa malayang pag-iisip at pananalita,” he said.
In highlighting the President’s support for media freedom, Roque pointed out that Duterte backed Davao-based radio broadcast Alexander Adonis who faced a libel case in court in 2007. He recalled that Adonis was convicted following a libel case filed by then Davao Rep. Prospero Nograles, an erstwhile political rival of Mayor Duterte.
He said the President continued to support to Adonis when he challenged the country’s libel law before the United Nations committee on human rights. The UN body eventually ruled that prison term of a journalist constituted a violation of freedom of expression.
“Suportado ni Presidente ang malayang pananalita at malayang pamamahayag. Sana po malinaw ‘yan,” Roque said.
Roque also pointed out that the country’s cyber law was passed during the previous administration. During the Aquino administration, he said the Supreme Court also ruled that libel is not a constitutionally protected speech and the government has an obligation to protect private individuals from defamation.
“Hindi po Presidente ang nasa likod sa panunupil diumano ng malayaang pananalita at pamamahayag. ‘Yan ang desisyon ng ating Korte Supreme sa panahon pa ni Presidente Noynoy Aquino,” he said.
Roque also rejected Ressa’s claim that her conviction was a test case of press freedom in the country. “Walang basehan ‘yan. She’s barking up the wrong tree,” he said, citing the President’s record of protecting the free press.
Roque said they expect the government critics to use Ressa’s case to claim the Duterte administration is an enemy of press freedom.
Nonetheless, Roque said Ressa can avail of legal remedies to appeal her conviction in court. “We wish her the best,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)
