(UPDATED), 1st UPDATE. Police didn’t even wait for veteran journalist Maria Ressa to exit Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City before they arrested her this morning, this time for allegedly violating the Anti-Dummy Law.
The embattled CEO and Executive Editor of news website Rappler was served the arrest warrant in NAIA’s Terminal 1 upon arriving from San Francisco at around 7am, ABS-CBN News reported.
The warrant was issued by the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 265 yesterday, a day after Ressa and Rappler executives were charged with violating the Anti-Dummy Law, which penalizes those who evade laws on the nationalization of certain rights, franchises, or privileges.
They were accused of allegedly violating the Constitution’s requirement for all mass media to be 100 percent Filipino-owned.
This is still in relation to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) declaring in January last year that Omidyar Network’s investments in Rappler are considered foreign ownership even though they were made through Philippine Depository Receipts (PDRs), an instrument that allows foreign companies to invest in Philippine companies without actually gaining ownership.
The SEC then revoked Rappler’s certificate of registration and tried to shut it down.
The six other Rappler executives immediately posted bail worth PHP90,000 (US$1,707.67) on Wednesday but Ressa was still out of the country at that time. Ressa has been freed after posting bail immediately after her arrest.
Apart from the Anti-Dummy Law charge, Ressa and the others were also charged for allegedly violating the Securities Regulations Code (SRC). A judge ordered for the case to be re-raffled to a special commercial court, Rappler reported.
“Landing in a short while to face my latest arrest warrant and the 7th time I will post bail,” Ressa tweeted earlier today.
She also urged supporters to #HoldTheLine and said that she will take note of every violation of her rights.
Landing in a short while to face my latest arrest warrant and the 7th time I will post bail. #HoldTheLine we pledge to not just hold power to account but I will mark every violation of my rights under the PH Constition (like harassment cases to try to intimidate @rapplerdotcom!) https://t.co/4rjLRwapZ2
— Maria Ressa (@mariaressa) March 28, 2019
According to Rappler, this is the seventh active court case against the journalist and the 11th overall case against Rappler and its directors since January last year.
In another tweet, Ressa said that she’s being arrested for simply doing her job.
“In a little over a year, 11 cases. Am posting bail [for] 7th time! For being a journalist,” she said.
In a little over a year, 11 cases. Am posting bail fot 7th time! For being a journalist. https://t.co/XscZyM6BrN
— Maria Ressa (@mariaressa) March 29, 2019
Many believe that the cases filed against Ressa and Rappler are politically motivated, especially because Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been openly critical of the website for their coverage of his administration.
Netizens, journalists, and human rights groups expressed their support for Ressa on social media, where the hashtag #HoldTheLine is a trending topic.
Journalist John Nery called the arrest “harassment.”
“Journalist @mariaressa arrested again, upon returning to Manila from a court-approved, bond-protected trip. This is harassment, plain and simple. (She took this pic from inside the police van.),” he said.
Journalist @mariaressa arrested again, upon returning to Manila from a court-approved, bond-protected trip. This is harassment, plain and simple. (She took this pic from inside the police van.) #HoldTheLine #DefendPressFreedom https://t.co/cSGNl46Kjr
— John Nery (@jnery_newsstand) March 28, 2019
Nicholas Dawes of the Human Rights Watch described it as “theatrical, absurd measures.”
He also took the time to celebrate Ressa and how she continues to be a journalist despite the situation.
“Of course @mariaressa is tweeting from the back of police vehicle while seated beside a heavily armored man. That’s how she rolls, and it’s the attitude that scares people who prefer guns to keyboards,” he said.
Of course @mariaressa is tweeting from the back of police vehicle while seated beside a heavily armored man. That’s how she rolls, and it’s the attitude that scares people who prefer guns to keyboards #HOLDTHELINE
— Nicholas Dawes (@NicDawes) March 28, 2019
Netizen @aaronlandicho_ was obviously angered by what happened.
“F*ck, is this how desperate this government is to silence people who are just doing their duty to speak for the truth?!!” he said in English and Filipino.
https://twitter.com/aaronlandicho_/status/1111412242514219010
@jetanedo questioned the validity of the charges in a sarcastic tweet.
“Wtf. Maria Ressa is arrested again? On what imaginary charges this time?“
https://twitter.com/jetanedo/status/1111416429574680579
@NitPickRick couldn’t help but throw shade too.
“@mariaressa is being arrested because apparently, Rappler is not 100% Filipino-owned. B*tch, this country’s already owned by China. Get f*cked, Duterte.“
https://twitter.com/NitPickRick/status/1111429213318316034
