Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Reynaldo Santos Jr. has been found guilty of cyber libel charges. The verdict was released on Monday, June 15, at the Manila Regional Trial Court under judge Rainelda Estacio-Montes.
Ressa and Santos are entitled to post bail and can appeal the case in the Supreme Court. The cyber libel is punishable by jail time of 6 months and 1 day to up to 7 years, according to Rapper report.
They are also ordered to pay P200,000 in moral damages and another P200,000 in exemplary damages.
It all began when Businessman Wilfredo Keng has filed lawsuit in October 2017 over a 2012 investigative report written by Reynaldo Santos Jr., citing to Keng's ties with then Chief Justice Renato Corona. The article also mentioned an intelligence report alleging Keng's involvement in illegal activities.
Ressa and her legal team point out that the controversial cyber-libel law did not exist at the time of publication in September 2012, however the online article had been updated in February 2014 to correct a spelling error.
"There was also a question of whether the cybercrime law could apply because it was enacted into law only in September 2012, or 4 months after the publication of the article," Rappler said.
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