Internationally acclaimed Filipino journalist Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos Jr., a former staffer at Rappler, the online news service founded by … On Monday night, November 4, 2019, RACU-7 also arrested Mary Grace Catapan, 31, and Jhallyn Gequillo Varga, 35, who allegedly defamed the wife of a judge in a group chat. Second, the crime of “Internet libel” is punishable by a penalty one degree higher than that provided for by the Revised Penal Code. Press freedom advocates, digital rights activists and human rights defenders first took the streets in 2012 to oppose Cybercrime … Maria Ressa, who heads a Philippine news website known for its tough scrutiny of President Rodrigo Duterte, refused to enter a plea on Tuesday in a second cyber libel case she faces, saying the charges against her were ludicrous. Under the RPC, as amended by RA 4661, the crime of “libel or other similar offenses” shall prescribe in one year. What are needed to do so. In 2015 80 cyber-libel … According to a press release from the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG), a total of 1,211 cybercrime complaints were filed with them from 2013-2015. For cyber libel, the venue is the province or city where any of its elements have been committed, where any part of the computer system used is situated, or where any of the damage caused to a natural or juridical person took place (Section 22, Implementing Guidelines of the Cybercrime Prevention Act). It was a case of bad lawyering.”, Read: Cybercrime law to be used against critics, netizens, groups fear. Critics pointed out existing laws were sufficient to penalize “acts of terrorism” defined in the RA 10175. Will we now have offenses such as inciting to sedition with the aid of a computer? Ressa and Santos were also each ordered to pay 200,000 Philippine … On March 22, 2019, two radio broadcasters in Kidapawan City were convicted of online libel. Critics say the president has intentions to inhibit free press. She and a … To keep up with the times, the Philippine Congress has enacted Republic Act No. Maria Ressa, Executive Editor and CEO of Philippine news website Rappler, arrives at the Manila City Hall for the promulgation of her cyber libel case … 4(c)(4) of R.A. 10175 states: “(4) Libel. But the people’s stand on this issue remains the same – criminal libel and cyberlibel have no rooms in a democracy. Rappler's lawyers argued the statute of limitations on libel had passed. c) If the libel imputes any of the private crimes, the Prosecution must be upon a complaint filed by the offended party 2. Thus, the penalty is prision mayor in its minimum period, which is from six years and one day to eight years and medium period, which is from eight years and one day to 10 years. They warned that the law will be used to stifle dissent and to harass not only government critics but also journalists and eagle-eyed netizens. Under the Duterte administration, what critics said became true. In the Philippines today, the most prominent name in the country's media landscape has been convicted for cyber libel. It has gone full circle, it seems. Harry Roque, professor of constitutional law at the University of the Philippines. It truly is like waiting for another shoe to drop as we wait in fear of the sensitive and defensive government official who’s out to make a point. Press freedom advocates, digital rights activists and human rights defenders first took the streets in 2012 to oppose Cybercrime Prevention Act, labeling it as cyber martial-law. Copyright © 2020 NPR. Cyber-libel, comment threads, social media Since the Supreme Court declared cyber-libel constitutional, social media and the Internet have become rife with libel scares and threats. — A libel committed by means of writing, printing, lithography, engraving, radio, phonograph, painting, theatrical exhibition, cinematographic exhibition, or any similar means, shall be punished by prision correccional in its minimum and medium periods or a fine ranging from 200 to 6,000 pesos, or both, in addition to the civil action which may be brought by the offended party.The Cybercrime Prevention Act strengthened libel … If the posts are published and accessible in the … I really love that I became a criminal all in one year several times. 10175, or otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (“RA 10175”). NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. The facilities of the mass media i.e print and broadcast media such as articles, news items, columns, caricatures, editorials in newspapers and magazines; comments, opinions, news aired over the television or radio stations b). Modern communication facilities such as through the internet or cellphones, CDs, DVDs b). But the pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Ressa and Santos were not the first journalists to be convicted of the crime. A Philippines court has found the veteran journalist and staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte Maria Ressa guilty of cyber libel. Nos. 118757 & 121571), a 2004 case decided by the Supreme Court. Ressa has filed a motion to quash the cyber libel case, saying that she is not the author of the Philippine Star article and should not be charged for tweeting screenshots of it. The cyber libel case alarms the media because it targets an eight-year-old story under a law that was enacted four months after it was posted. She and a former colleague at the site now face up to six years in prison. “By any reasonable and unbiased reading, the sentence is not defamatory—read singly, none of the words are; read together, the sentence is not,” her petition read. Sec. A court in Manila on Monday found Maria Ressa, journalist and editor of online publication Rappler, guilty of cyber libel. However, if it is cyber libel, the penalty is increased by one degree. The cyber libel charges against Ressa were made under a controversial cybercrime statute aimed at online offences, such as stalking and child pornography. Maria Ressa, the founder of award-winning news site Rappler, was charged with her second cyber libel case at the Makati Regional Trial Court, several media reported today. Both suspects, who are from Bogo City, posted bail amounting to P36,000 each. MANILA (UPDATE) - Rappler chief Maria Ressa on Tuesday did not enter a plea to to the conditional arraignment for the second cyber libel charge filed against her by businessman Wilfredo Keng.. Read: Campus editor threatened with libel for criticizing gov’t response on COVID-19. Republic Act No. This is the second time that the RACU-7 nabbed cyber libel suspects this week. June 15, 2020 2:12 AM EDT Maria Ressa, the founder of an award-winning Philippines-based news site and critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, was convicted of cyber libel … North Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza filed the charges against broadcasters Eric Rodinas, anchor of Radyo Natin and Larry Baja Subillaga Jr., a freelance broadcaster, over “malicious” statements posted in their social media accounts on March 14, 2017. Or rebellion committed via the internet? The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility have long been calling for the decriminalization of libel. MANILA, Philippines - A person found guilty of libelous comments on the Internet could spend up to 12 years in prison with no possibility of parole, a lawyer warned Wednesday. Duterte has faced international calls to drop all charges against the veteran reporter, with rights groups saying they amount to state harassment. It aims to address legal issues concerning online interactions and the Internet in the Philippines. Critics call it Duterte's revenge over Rappler's hard-hitting coverage of his administration, most pointedly his violent drug war. The Supreme Court has mentioned the relatively new Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 in only a handful of cases. two radio broadcasters in Kidapawan City were convicted of online libel. All rights reserved. He was referring to the UN Human Rights Committee’s October 2011 decision stating that the Philippine criminal libel law is excessive and is in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in which the Philippines is a signatory. In 2018, it held that the time limit for an offended person to file a cyberlibel case is 15 years – but it did so in an “unsigned resolution” that may not be a … The conviction for libel online stemmed from an article dating back to 2012, with a Filipino businessman disputing a referenced intelligence report alleging he was linked to a murder and drug dealing. A court in Manila on Monday found Maria Ressa, journalist and editor of online publication Rappler, guilty of cyber libel. But the pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Libel is one of the cybercrime offenses punishable under Republic Act (RA) 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 . Still, many provisions questioned were upheld as constitutional in a landmark decision in February 2014. In the Philippines today, the most prominent name in the country's media landscape has been convicted for cyber libel. Ressa is accused of cyber libel for the second time for her tweet containing screenshots of a 2002 newspaper article about Keng's alleged involvement in criminal activities. Press freedom advocates, digital rights activists and human rights defenders first took the streets in 2012 to oppose Cybercrime Prevention Act, labeling it as cyber martial-law. MARIA RESSA: This is the first. Both suspects, who are from Bogo City, posted bail amounting to P36,000 each. The same is now true for new media like the internet. Maria Ressa is the CEO of the online news portal Rappler. 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