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June 15, 2020

Filipina Journalist Maria Ressa Convicted in Major Blow to Press Freedom
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In the Philippines, a court convicted award-winning journalist Maria
Ressa earlier today in a cyberlibel case that's widely seen as
politically motivated. Ressa, founder of the independent news site
Rappler, has been a vocal critic of President Rodrigo Duterte and his
deadly drug war, which has killed thousands. Ressa and Rappler employee
Reynaldo Santos could face up to six years behind bars. This is Maria
Ressa speaking to reporters after the verdict was announced.

Maria Ressa: "You shut down ABS-CBN. That would have been unthinkable
before this time. It has happened. And then an anti-terror bill that
will take away, codify, institutionalize these abuses of power, it means
that you can be called a terrorist, and without a warrant of arrest, you
could be arrested for writing something."

Click here to see all our interviews with Maria Ressa about this case
and her work.


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