THE arrest of Rappler chief executive officer (CEO) Maria Ressa was not an affront to press freedom, Malacañang said Wednesday, February 13.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo urged Ressa to face the legal challenges slapped on her. The Rappler chief was arrested Wednesday over a cyberlibel case.
Panelo defended the court's decision, saying that the arrest order was grounded with "facts."
"There is nothing to do with freedom of expression or freedom of the press. Regardless of who commits any irregularity or crime, he or she will be charged in accordance with the law," the Palace official said in a television interview.
"The charge is facts-based and the DOJ prosecutors gave her all the opportunity to defend herself and it found out there is probable cause and even the court agrees with it," he added.
Ressa was at Rappler's office in Pasig City when the National Bureau of Investigation served the arrest warrant on her issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46 on Tuesday, February 12.
Her arrest stemmed from the cyber libel case filed by the Department of Justice over a 2012 Rappler article, which was allegedly "clearly demafatory."
Following Ressa's arrest, Panelo advised the Rappler chief to just focus on defending herself.
"I think I'd rather advise Maria Ressa to just focus on her defense. Freedom of expression has nothing to do with it," he said.
"They are making a fuss about anything they perceive to be wrong. You know warrant of arrest can be issued on a weekday. The only prohibition is you issue it on a weekend and that will not give the respondent the opportunity to file a motion for or to file bail," he added. (SunStar Philippines)