Malakanyang, itinangging may kinalaman sa Arrest order ng hukuman kay Maria Ressa ng Rappler
Mariing itinanggi ng Malakanyang na may kamay ito sa pagpapalabas ng hukuman ng arrest order laban kay Rappler Chief Executive officer Maria Ressa.
Sinabi ni Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo na hindi nakikialam ang Malakanyang sa trabaho ng hudikatura bilang paggalang sa separation of power ng co-equal branch ng pamahalaan.
Ayon kay Panelo, ang arrest warrant laban kay Maria Ressa ay batay sa probable cause na nakita ng hukuman kaugnay ng kasong Cyberlibel.
Inihayag ni Panelo mali rin ang akusasyon ni Maria Ressa na sinasagkaan ng administrasyon ang freedom of expression dahil ang kaso ay may kaugnayan sa paglabag sa cyber crime law ng bansa.
Pinayuhan pa ni Panelo na dapat harapin na lamang ni Maria Ressa ang kaso at kontrahin na lamang ito sa hukuman gamit ang ebidensiya sa ilalim ng Judicial process dahil walang sinuman ang mataas o hihigit sa ilalim ng batas.
Secretary Panelo:
“On the arrest of Maria Ressa, this Administration has always respected the Judiciary on how it handles cases pending before its courts. We therefore refrain from interfering in its own present affairs. The warrant of arrest from Branch 46 of the Manila Regional Trial Court was issued against Maria Ressa based on a finding of probable cause. Ms. Ressa being a media practitioner and a high ranking officer of a media outfit critical of the President’s programs and policies has nothing to do with the present circumstances she is currently in. Freedom of expression, as critics of this Administration erroneously suggest, is absolutely unrelated with Ms. Ressa’s probable violation of the country’s laws. Ms. Ressa should, in fact, welcome this as an opportunity to defend herself and be heard before the court of law. We are a country of laws and every citizen must adhere to the rule of law. No one is above the law, not even high profile self-anointed crusading journalists. Whatever the outcome is, it must be respected by everyone for such is the law. This is how the rule of law works”.
Ulat ni Vic Somintac
