Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Hold the Line Coalition have welcomed the 19 June 2025 acquittal of Maria Ressa and five Rappler directors in a key legal case, marking a significant moment for press freedom in the Philippines.
The acquittal comes after years of legal challenges faced by Ressa and Rappler, seen widely as part of a campaign of persecution initiated under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The anti-dummy case, filed in 2018, alleged that Rappler had violated constitutional provisions prohibiting foreign ownership of media outlets in the Philippines.
However, the court found the evidence presented by the prosecution to be “grossly insufficient” to prove any criminal liability on the part of Ressa or the other directors.
This decision follows a 2024 ruling by the Philippine Court of Appeals, which overturned an order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) seeking to revoke Rappler’s operating licence.
The appellate court affirmed that Rappler had not breached constitutional rules regarding media ownership, providing further legal support for the outlet’s operations.
In response to the acquittal, the Hold the Line Coalition stated, “We call on the Philippine justice system to overturn Maria Ressa’s conviction in the last case still pending against her, to put an end to the years-long campaign of legal harassment.”
The coalition, comprising over 80 international organisations, has been actively advocating for press freedom and the protection of journalists targeted for their work.
Since 2017, Ressa and her colleagues have faced an onslaught of legal cases and online abuse, which many observers believe were politically motivated.
A total of 23 cases were filed against Rappler and its staff, signalling what advocacy groups describe as a deliberate attempt to silence independent journalism.
Despite the acquittal, Ressa and former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos continue to face a serious legal threat.
They were convicted of criminal cyber libel in 2020 and sentenced to up to six years and nine months in prison. That conviction is currently under final appeal before the Philippine Supreme Court.
The case stems from a 2012 article on alleged links between a businessman and criminal activity, which was updated in 2014—a revision that prosecutors argued made it subject to the cybercrime law passed in 2012.
Legal experts and press freedom advocates have widely criticised the cyber libel law’s retroactive application in this case.
In 2022, Rappler was formally ordered to shut down in a landmark decision, further intensifying international concerns over media freedom in the country.
Although the site was allowed to continue operations due to the slow appeal process, the order marked the first time such an action had been taken against a Philippine news outlet.
The Hold the Line Coalition has reiterated its call for global action, urging states, international organisations, and civil society to continue defending press freedom in the Philippines.
It also called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to demonstrate a renewed commitment to the protection of journalists and the upholding of democratic freedoms.
This recent acquittal is seen as a positive development but falls short of full justice, according to press freedom advocates, who warn that the remaining conviction and potential prison time for Ressa and Santos could still cast a chilling effect on journalism in the Philippines.
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