MAY epekto umano sa press freedom ang hatol kay Maria Ressa, Executive Editor at Chief Executive Officer ng Rappler, at dati nitong researcher-writer na si Reynaldo Santos Jr., sa kasong paglabag sa Cybercrime Prevention Act.
“Press freedom received another devastating blow from the improvident and barren conviction of Rappler’s Maria Ressa for alleged commission of cyber libel even before it was criminalized, and the prosecution for which has long proscribed,” ani Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman sa isang pahayag.
Paliwanag ni Lagman ang cyber libel, ayon sa Revised Penal Code (RPC) ay mayroong isang taong prescription period, o maaari lamang isampa sa loob ng isang taon mula ng mailathala ang kinukuwestyong artikulo.
“The purported cyber libel for which Ressa is charged with was allegedly published or committed in May 2012 but the case was filed in 2017 or only five years later. Verily, it has prescribed,” saad ng solon.
Iniugnay pa ni Lagman ang desisyon ng Manila Regional Trial Court sa umano’y “repressive campaign” ang Ehekutibo sa mga kritiko nito.
“Ressa has been the victim of the Duterte administration’s vindictive prosecution for pursuing critical advocacy against what she perceives as flawed policies of the administration, and her conviction is a wanton addition to these abusive reprisals.”
“Now the cruel price of free speech and press freedom is impending incarceration. What would be imprisoned with Ressa are critical reportage and legitimate dissent even as it would hold hostage press freedom.”
Sinabi naman ni House Deputy Minority leader at Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate na ang hatol ay “is a source of serious and grave concerns, especially in the context of the growing attacks now on the basic rights of our peoples.”
Naniniwala si Zarate na ang desisyon ay isang hadlang sa press freedom at sa lahat ng gumagamit ng social media gaya ng Facebook, Instagram at Twitter.
“This verdict can be used to haul into court and jail anyone who exposes wrongdoing in government,” saad ni Zarate. “Taken into the context of the ABS-CBN shutdown and the railroading of the New Terror Bill, this can be taken as the tightening of our civil liberties particularly that of press freedom and the freedom of expression. This is an ominous sign of where the Duterte administration is going to bring our country. The people. must fight back.”