I.

Issue

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday said the second arrest of Rappler chief executive Maria Ressa

last Friday looked like a “warning” for journalists who criticize the administration.

II. Introduction/Overview

Maria A. Ressa is a Filipino-American journalist and author. She is best known for co-

founding Rappler as its chief executive officer. Rappler is an online news website. Rappler chief

executive Maria Ressa was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) shortly after

arriving Friday morning. The arrest warrant was issued by Judge Acerey Pacheco of the Pasig Regional

Trial Court Branch 265, as seen in a Facebook livestream of the news website Rappler. Ressa and other

Rappler executives Manuel Ayala, Nico Jose Nolledo, Glenda Gloria, James Bitangca, Felicia Atienza

and James Velasquez were charged by the Pasig City prosecutors over an alleged violation of the Anti-

Dummy Law and the Securities Regulations Code (SRC). The Anti-Dummy Law (or Commonwealth

Act No. 108, as amended) was born to spell out how Filipinos are punished when they participate in

evading the nationalization laws. Rappler has been under fire for allegedly violating the Constitution’s

requirement on foreign ownership. But after few months Rappler President Maria Ressa pleaded not

guilty to her four cases of tax deficiencies amounting to P70 million in connection with the sale of

Philippine Depositary Receipts in violation of the National Internal Revenue Code. Ressa, speaking

engagements, maintained in that the cases filed against her were all politically motivated.

III. Reaction

Page 1 of 5
The news article is all about the case of Maria Ressa. It has two major points, first is the time when

Maria Ressa got arrested, as supported by statement “When I saw the pictures, I felt like it was a

warning for the members of media that they would suffer the same fate if they follow what Rappler is

doing,” Robredo said during her weekly radio show, “ Ressa was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino

International Airport shortly after arriving from a trip in San Francisco, California. She was arrested

over her case for alleged violation of the Anti-Dummy Law. The second point is Leni Robredo’s

argument of the current issue in her radio program, as supported by her own statements saying “We

are not asking for her to be given special treatment, but for me, file a case if someone should be held

accountable. But here, it looks like she is being singled out,”. Robredo added, “We know that there

are big personalities who have been charged with corruption. Former first lady Imelda Marcos was

convicted, but she remains free. Instead of filing a case or imprisoning them, these personalities are

free and are even given a position in the government,”.

My reaction on this article news is at first, I did not understand on the first time I have read this,

because I am not into politics. But this news captures my attention. The Vice President of the

Philippines announced that the Chief Executive Maria Ressa, she was arrested over her case for

alleged violation of the Anti-Dummy Law, she published fake information in rappler about the

administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. Vice President Leni Robredo act and she talked this on

her program in radio. And she said that Maria Ressa and like the other journalist that criticize the

administration, will be accused and imprisonment in a long time. I think this serves as warning who

want to criticize the Duterte administration and who want to spread fake news about the said

administration. Because even the highest position will break by this fake news. Chel Diokno also

replied Robredo’s comments, underscoring the importance of media in spreading factual news,

especially with the prevalence of fake news in the country. And I think that this case is important to

read so that we can avoid fake news and peace will flow in our heart as Filipinos.

Page 2 of 3
 IV. References

Maria Ressa’s arrest a ‘warning’ to journalists, says Robredo, Neil Arwin Mercado, March 30, 2019,

Retrieved at 8:30 PM, April 3, 2019

https://www.google.com.ph/amp/s/newsinfo.inquirer.net/1101687/maria-ressas-arrest-a-warning-to-

journalists-says-robredo/amp

Rappler’s Ressa arrested at Naia, Krissy Aguilar, March 29, 2019, Retrieved at 9:00 PM, April 3, 2019

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1101061/rapplers-ressa-arrested-at-naia

Rappler's Maria Ressa pleads not guilty to P70-M tax deficiency cases

ABS-CBN News, April 3 2019, Retrieved at 11:14 AM, April 03, 2019

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/03/19/rapplers-maria-ressa-pleads-not-guilty-to-p70-m-tax-

deficiency-cases

Page 3 of 3