Rappler’s Maria Ressa freed on bail

Ressa, along with managing editor Glenda Gloria and five other members of Rappler’s 2016 board Manuel Ayala, James Bitanga, Nico Jose Nolledo, James Velasquez, and Felicia Atienza, were charged for allegedly violating the Anti-Dummy Law. (File photo: NAIA Media Affairs Division via PNA)

Hours after she was arrested, the chief executive officer (CEO) of online news media outfit Rappler was released on Friday noon, March 29, after she paid a P90,000 bail.

Journalist Maria Ressa posted it at the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 265, which issued the arrest warrant against her. It was served to her by two female police officers upon her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Friday morning.

She had undergone booking procedure at the Pasig City Police headquarters.

[READ: Rappler’s Maria Ressa arrested for alleged Anti-Dummy Law violation]

Ressa, along with managing editor Glenda Gloria and five other members of Rappler’s 2016 board Manuel Ayala, James Bitanga, Nico Jose Nolledo, James Velasquez, and Felicia Atienza, were charged for allegedly violating the Anti-Dummy Law.

This case stemmed from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) ruling revoking Rappler’s certificate of incorporation for allegedly violating constitutional restrictions on ownership of mass media entities by issuing Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) to foreign investor Omidyar Network.

The news outfit, however, earlier argued that they are 100 percent Filipino-owned as the PDR’s “do not indicate ownership.”

In a statement it issued also on Friday, Rappler said its board members “are citizens of good standing in the community.”

“Issuing arrest warrants against them and journalists has a chilling effect on the freedom of speech, on business, and innovation,” it said.

“Instead of encouraging business and media to pursue innovation, government is stifling such initiatives,” it added.

The anti-dummy case, Rappler noted, is the seventh active court case their chief is facing and the 11th case overall against the news outfit, its officials, and staff within a year. This is also the second time Ressa was arrested in less than two months.

Rappler’s CEO was nabbed in February over a cyber libel case, but she was then released from detention after posting a P100,000 bail.

[READ: Rappler CEO walks out of detention after posting bail]

Despite all these, Rappler said, “journalists doing their jobs will not be intimidated.”

“We will continue to #HoldTheLine,” it stressed.