Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo
made it clear that the conviction of the two Rappler personalities over a cyber
libel case is “a case of accountability” and not what they are
painting to be.
Panelo disagreed with
the opposition lawmakers who are shouting in media that their conviction by the
Manila RTC is slowly killin press freedom in the country.
”Ms. Ressa should
stop telling her fellow journalists that this is a case against all of them too
when she and her reporter who wrote the offending article were the only ones
sued and convicted for allegedly transgressing an individual's rights,” Panelo
said.
Panelo reminds Maria
Ressa and the Rappler’s former reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr that the libel case
filed against them is by a private person Wilfred Keng.
“Simply put, this a
case between Ms. Ressa and Mr. Keng, whom the President does not know from
Adam. It is a case of accountability upon those who abuse the freedom of the
press,” Panelo said.
Panelo reminds all
journalist to take to heart the wisdom written by the Supreme Court as regards
freedom of the press is “not absolute” and ends when it is abused and
transgresses the rights of others.
No journalist has been charged by Duterte
The Chief counsel of
the President emphasized that no journalist have been charged in court by the
Pres. Duterte despite libelous articles written about him and his immediate
family.
“The right to express
oneself or to publish articles of dissent is sacrosanct as it is guaranteed by
the Constitution. Its observance by the Administration is irrefutably evidenced
by the fact that reporters, especially those from Rappler, continue to publish
articles against this Administration’s policies,” he said.
Critics and
dissenters continue to air their protests in various media platforms against
the policies of President Duterte.
“They are eloquent
proof that the freedom of the press in this part of the world is robust and
unfettered,” he added.
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