Breaking News: Global journalism community calls for press freedom following arrest of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa

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MANILA, PHILIPPINES—As of 1:19 pm today, Rappler Executive Editor and CEO Maria Ressa has finally been released following a release order by the Manila RTC Branch 46 Thursday afternoon, February 14. 5 pm on Wednesday, February 13, Ressa was arrested on the Rappler headquarters by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) cybercrime decision due to a cyber libel charge.

Ressa was arrested over an article published by Rappler in May 2012—four months before the law she and former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. had allegedly violated was laid down. According to Rappler, officers from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized Ressa following the case over an article the online news organization published in 2012.

Here are highlights regarding Ressa’s arrest:

Rappler shared through live video coverages on their social media pages on Ressa’s arrest.

Aika Rey (@reyaika), Rappler’s Multimedia Reporter shared a video clip in Twitter:

The arrest warrant vs Maria Ressa is being served at the Rappler HQ now, an officer part of the serving party who introduced himself to be part of the NBI tried to prohibit me from taking videos — WHICH IS PART OF MY JOB pic.twitter.com/TElJzSjJer
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— Aika Rey (@reyaika) February 13, 2019

Rey (@reyaika), also followed up in a tweet:

He threatened that he will go after me if I don’t stop recording. He started taking a video of me “for being stubborn.”
It’s my job to put it on record
— Aika Rey (@reyaika) February 13, 2019

Miriam Grace Go (@miriamgracego), Rappler’s News editor relays in a tweet:

BREAKING: NBI agents slip into our building at 5 pm (you know what that cutoff time means) to serve arrest warrant vs @rapplerdotcom CEO @mariaressa. They tell us to stop taking videos. We won’t. https://t.co/Pw8ub4M5xS #DefendPressFreedom #StandWithRappler
— Miss Go (@miriamgracego) February 13, 2019

Ressa was detained at the NBI for a night following the refusal of the Pasay Metropolitan Trial Court Executive Judge Allan Ariola on jurisdiction concerns despite posting bail of P100,000. Glenda Gloria (@glendamgloria), Rappler’s Managing Editor joined Ressa in the NBI headquarters:

With @mariaressa at the NBI. We do not duck. We do not hide. We are Rappler @rapplerdotcom #DefendPressFreedom pic.twitter.com/ULM0pW1HSb
— Glenda Gloria (@glendamgloria) February 13, 2019

Ressa (@mariaressa) is released on February 14, sharing in a tweet:

Finally out. Thank you for your support! #HoldTheLine pic.twitter.com/EOHTmx0i12
— Maria Ressa (@mariaressa) February 14, 2019

Rappler slams the arrest of Ressa in a statement, “If this is another of several attempts to intimidate us, it will not succeed … We will continue to tell the truth and report what we see and hear. We are first and foremost journalists, we are truthtellers.”

In addition to TIME Magazine’s high profile 2018 Person of the Year feature on Ressa (along with other persecuted journalists worldwide), various global organizations and media outlets have condemned Ressa’s arrest and the lack of journalistic freedom in the country. The Index on Censorship, a freedom of expression campaign group, condemned the arrest, urging the UK to fulfill its promise of defending press freedom globally by calling for her release.

Jodie Ginsberg, Chief Executive stated, “The UK Foreign Office has made media freedom its flagship campaign for 2019. Jeremy Hunt must make good on his promises to champion media freedom worldwide by showing that the actions of the Philippines authorities are unacceptable.”

International journalists and sectors also call for press freedom following Ressa’s arrest.

Global Editors Network on Twitter

The Global Editors Network stands with its board member @mariaressa in these difficult times. We stand by her in the face of government repression and fully support her work. We respect the courage with which she, and @rapplerdotcom, approach journalism. https://t.co/z8HC2f2Rp6
— Global Editors Network (@GENinnovate) February 13, 2019

Christine Amanpour, CNN Chief International anchor on Twitter

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

World Editors Forum, @WorldEditors

The ink had not dried on our protest letter this morning to Philippines President Duterte for the persecution of @MariaRessa when cybercrime division officers arrived at @rapplerdotcom headquarters to arrest her. #journalismisnotacrime #pressfreedom https://t.co/VZp0ErGhAl
— World Editors Forum (@WorldEditors) February 13, 2019

Ressa is one of the judges for this year’s Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards. She is also featured on the 2018 autumn edition of its magazine.