Ressa arrest stirs condemnation, calls for due process from abroad

MANILA, Philippines (Updated Feb.15, 8:50 p.m.) — The US and Canada have expressed hope that Rappler CEO Maria Ressa will be given due process in a cyberlibel case against even as the Philippine government has said her arrest on Thursday is just a matter of enforcing the law.

In a statement on its social media account, the US Embassy said it hopes the charges "will be resolved quickly in accordance with relevant Philippine law and international standards of due process."

In a separate statement on her Twitter account, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland said she is "deeply troubled" by the reports of Ressa's arrest. "Canada reiterates its call for due process to be respected and for journalists to be free from harassment and intimidation." 

Deeply troubled by reports that @mariaressa has been arrested in the #Philippines. A free press is a bedrock of democracy. Canada reiterates its call for due process to be respected and for journalists to be free from harassment and intimidation. #StandWithMariaRessa

— Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) February 14, 2019

In a tweet late Thursday, British Ambassador Daniel Pruce said he was also concerned about Ressa's arrest.

I was concerned by #MariaRessa's arrest last night. I was honoured to welcome her and many of our media colleagues to last week's local launch of the UK's global media freedom campaign. The British Government supports a free media #DefendPressFreedom https://t.co/HnDtvIKJhT

— Daniel Pruce ???????? (@DanielPruce) February 14, 2019

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Thursday that he trusts “that the court will give [Ressa] a fair trial, based solely on the facts and the law, and not on arguents ad hominem and emotional rhetorics.”

Undersecretary Markk Perete, in a separate statement, said the issue is not about press freedom at all.

"Certainly, the freedoms of the press, of speech and of expression, do not give any person—whether a journalist, a blogger, or any person of whatever occupation—the license to engage in libel," he said.

Advocates for the decriminalization of libel say that the charge can be used to silence critics.

'Arrest outrageous, must be condemned'

Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said shortly after news of Ressa's arrest broke that it was "outrageous and must be condemned by all democratic nations. I’m proud to call her a friend and to stand with her in defending the principles of a free press."

The arrest of journalist @mariaressa by the Philippine government is outrageous and must be condemned by all democratic nations. I’m proud to call her a friend and to stand with her in defending the principles of a free press. https://t.co/Hy09UFsARl

— Madeleine Albright (@madeleine) February 13, 2019

Albright chairs the National Democratic Institute, which awarded Maria Ressa and Rappler in 2017 for its work in “fighting disinformation.” 

READ: A look at the cyber libel charge vs Rappler, Maria Ressa

Charles Santiago, a member of the Malaysian parliament and chairman of the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights is quoted in Singapore's The Straits Times as saying: "It shows the extent to which the Philippine government is willing to go in its bid to silence critics within the media."

UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Agnes Callamard also tweeted support for Ressa on Thursday. 

And another terrible nail in the coffin. #Philippines   Maria, I am thinking of you.  You can count on me. You can count on us. #pressfreedom https://t.co/aUbJfV1QsW

— Agnes Callamard (@AgnesCallamard) February 13, 2019

Callamard herself has been the target of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte for her criticism of alleged extrajudicial killings related to the government's campaign against illegal drugs.

RELATED: Duterte warns Callamard: If you investigate me, I'll slap you

Christophe Deloire, secretary general of watchdog Reporters Without Borders tweeted that Ressa is a member of its Commission on Information and Democracy and could "rely on the solidarity of the 24 members of this commission, which includes Nobel laureates like Amartya Sen, Joseph Stiglitz, Shirin Ebadi, Mario Vargas Llosa.

Maria Ressa is part of the Commission on Information and Democracy initiated by @RSF last September. She can rely on the solidarity of the 24 other members of this commission, which includes Nobel laureates like Amartya Sen, Joseph Stiglitz, Shirin Ebadi, Mario Vargas Llosa https://t.co/AH3THAB727

— Christophe Deloire (@cdeloire) February 13, 2019

UNESCO Chair in Journalism & Communication Peter Greste said that the case is "not about criminal behavior" but "silencing a voice that challenges the government." 

One of the straightest, most courageous journalists I know, @mariaressa of @rapplerdotcom, has been arrested in the Philippines. Make no mistake; this is not about criminal behaviour. It is about silencing a voice that challenges the govt. @4JournoFreedom #journalismisnotacrime

— Peter Greste (@PeterGreste) February 13, 2019

CNN's Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour tweeted, "You know a government is desperate when they arrest a journalist."

You know a government is desperate when they arrest a journalist.

President Duterte: FREE @mariaressa NOW.@UNESCO@pressfreedom#MariaRessa#PressFreedom https://t.co/Ot4g3v6s34

— Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) February 13, 2019

Ressa was the bureau chief of CNN’s Manila and Jakarta bureau in the 1990s until 2005.

She was among one of several journalists recognized as TIME Magazine's Person of the Year.

READ: Rappler's Ressa among journalists named TIME Person of the Year

In a statement published on Wednesday evening, Rappler called the warrant a "dangerous precedent," saying it puts anyone "who publishes anything online perennially in danger of being charged with libel." 

"It can be an effective tool of harassment and intimidation to silence critical reporting on the part of the media. No one is safe," it added.