Tax Evasion: Court Acquits Nobel Prize Winner, Maria Ressa

Veteran journalist and Founder of news outlet Rappler, Maria Ressa says charges of tax evasion brought against her were politically motivated and her acquittal by the court represents victory ‘for every Filipino who has ever been unjustly accused’

The Philippine Nobel laureate widely considered the “face of the free press in the Philippines”, was acquitted of tax evasion charges, in a case she described as part of a pattern of harassment by the Philipino authorities.

Speaking to the press after the verdict, an emotional Ressa said the charges against her and her news outlet, Rappler, had been an abuse of power, politically motivated, and designed to stop journalists from doing their jobs.

According to her; “These cases are where capital markets, rule of law, [and] where press freedom meet so this acquittal is not just for Rappler, it’s for every Filipino who has ever been unjustly accused”, adding; “Today, facts win, truth wins, justice wins.”

Ressa, the Chief Executive and co-founder of Rappler, was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2021 for her work to “safeguard freedom of expression” after being commended for exposing abuses of power and growing authoritarianism under the then Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte.

Her publication earned a reputation for its in-depth reporting and tough scrutiny of Duterte’s deadly war on drugs. Since 2018, Ressa has faced a range of civil and criminal charges in what is widely considered a campaign to silence dissent.

Since its inception, Rappler has covered contentious topics such as the abuse of power by Duterte, the “war on drugs” and his supporters’ use of social media to spread misinformation.

The case against Ressa alleged that Rappler had failed to include proceeds of a 2015 sale of depositary receipts to foreign investors in its tax returns. But reacting to the acquittal, the Philippines justice department said it would respect the Court’s decision.

Ressa is on bail as she appeals against a six-year prison sentence handed down in 2020 for a libel conviction, but observers called Wednesday’s verdict a crucial win for press freedom.

Carlos H Conde, a senior Philippines researcher at Human Rights Watch, said; “The acquittal is clearly welcome news and a boon for press freedom in the Philippines”, adding; “Since Duterte targeted her and Rappler for their reporting on the ‘drug war’, Maria has become an icon for independent, fierce journalism”.

Also, the National Union for Journalists of the Philippines said in a statement; “While colleagues similarly face legal challenges, from libel to made-up terrorism charges, in relation to their work, we take inspiration from this acquittal that if we stand up and hold the line, we can win.”

Conde said the media landscape in the country has, over the years, been dominated by “bad news, despair, and fear”, with journalists often working in precarious situations.

Available records indicate that since 1992, about 94 journalists have been killed in the country, the most recent being in October last year when broadcaster Percival Mabasa was gunned down inside his car. The Philippines ranks 147 out of 180 countries in the 2022 World Press Freedom Index.

“President Marcos has the duty to ensure that journalists operate freely and without free”, Conde added.

Despite this backdrop, Ressa, who authored the book ‘How to Stand Up to a Dictator’, said she had had faith in the Court, adding; “It took four years and two months. We came to court [and] we believed in the court despite everything that was happening.” – With agency reports