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MANILA - The Court of Appeals (CA) has turned down the appeal of Maria Ressa, chief executive officer of online news portal Rappler, and a former writer in connection with their conviction for cyber libel by a Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) two years ago. The decision written by Associate Justice Roberto Quiroz and a copy of which was obtained by the Philippine News Agency on Friday modified the lower court's sentence imposed on Ressa and former writer Reynaldo Santos Jr. to an indeterminate penalty of imprisonment ranging from six months and one day to six years, eight months and 20 days. The CA quoted Supreme Court precedents that "this case comes at a time when the credibility of journalists is needed more than ever, when their tried-and-tested practice of adhering to their own code of ethics becomes more necessary, so that their truth may provide a stronger bulwark against the recklessness in social media. Respondents, then, should have been more circumspect in what they published. They are not media practitioners with a lack of social following; their words reverberate". On June 15, 2020, the Manila RTC Branch 46 found Santos and Ressa "guilty beyond reasonable doubt" for violation of Section 4 (c) 4 of Republic Act No. 10175, otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and sentenced them to a minimum of six months and one day to a maximum of six years in jail. The case arose from a complaint filed by Filipino-Chinese businessman Wilfredo Keng in connection with a May 2012 report by Rappler, which claimed that then-Chief Justice Renato Corona was using a sports utility van owned by the complainant. The report also said the businessman had been under surveillance by the National Security Council for alleged involvement in illegal activities identifying him as "Willy" and using the surname "Kheng". The Department of Justice (DOJ) approved the filing of the cyber libel complaint in February 2019. Ressa claimed she should not be charged with cyber libel as the law was not yet in effect when the story was originally published on May 29, 2012, or five months before the Cybercrime law took effect on Oct. 3. The DOJ, however, ruled that the story had been updated and remained posted as of Feb. 14, 2014. In a statement posted on Facebook, Rappler said Ressa and Santos have received the decision and will avail of all legal remedies, including elevating the decision to the Supreme Court for review. "While the decision is unfortunate, it is also a good opportunity for the Supreme Court to take a second look at the constitutionality of cyber libel and the continuing criminalization of libel, especially in light of the freedom of expression and freedom of the press," Rappler stated. "The decision weakens the ability of journalists to hold power to account. We call on our media colleagues, our community, and other advocates of a free and independent press to be vocal and vigilant now more than ever. This is not just about Maria Ressa, Rey Santos Jr., or Rappler. What is ultimately at stake is our democracy whose strength rests on a media that is not threatened by the state nor intimidated by forces out to silence critical voices." (PNA) }

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China ,Manila ,Philippines ,Philippine ,Benguet ,Chinese ,Filipino ,Reynaldo Santos Jr ,Rey Santos Jr ,Maria Ressa ,Justice Renato Corona ,Justice Roberto Quiroz ,Wilfredo Keng ,Supreme Court ,Department Of Justice ,Manila Regional Trial Court ,Facebook ,National Security Council ,Philippine News Agency On ,Associate Justice Roberto Quiroz ,Philippine News Agency ,Reynaldo Santos ,Republic Act ,Cybercrime Prevention Act ,Chief Justice Renato Corona ,Manila The Court Of Appeals Ca Has Turned Down Appeal Maria Ressa ,Hief Executive Officer Of Online News Portal Rappler ,Nda Former Writer In Connection With Their Conviction For Cyber Libel Bya Manila Regional Trial Court Rtc Two Years Ago The Decision Written By Associate Justice Roberto Quiroz Anda Copy Of Which Was Obtained Philippine News Agency On Friday Modified Lower 39s Sentence Imposed Ressa And Reynaldo Santos Jr To An Indeterminate Penalty Imprisonment Ranging From Six Months One Day ,Ight Months And 20 Days The Ca Quoted Supreme Court Precedents That Quot This Case Comes Ata Time When Credibility Of Journalists Is Needed More Than Ever ,Hen Their Tried And Tested Practice Of Adhering To Own Code Ethics Becomes More Necessary ,O That Their Truth May Providea Stronger Bulwark Against The Recklessness In Social Media Respondents ,When ,Hould Have Been More Circumspect In What They Published Are Not Media Practitioners Witha Lack Of Social Following Their Words Reverberate Quot On June 15 ,020 ,He Manila Rtc Branch 46 Found Santos And Ressa Quot Guilty Beyond Reasonable Doubt For Violation Of Section 4c 4 Republic Act No 10175 ,Therwise Known As The Cybercrime Prevention Act Of 2012 ,Nd Sentenced Them Toa Minimum Of Six Months And One Day Maximum Years In Jail The Case Arose Froma Complaint Filed By Filipino Chinese Businessman Wilfredo Keng Connection Witha May 2012 Report Rappler ,Hich Claimed That Then Chief Justice Renato Corona Was Usinga Sports Utility Van Owned By The Complainant Report Also Said Businessman Had Been Under Surveillance National Security Council For Alleged Involvement In Illegal Activities Identifying Him As Quot Willy And Using Surname Kheng Department Of Doj Approved Filing Cyber Libel Complaint February 2019 Ressa She Should Not Be Charged With Law Yet Effect When Story Originally Published On May 29 ,012 ,R Five Months Before The Cybercrime Law Took Effect On Oct 3 Doj ,Owever ,Uled That The Story Had Been Updated And Remained Posted As Of Feb 14 ,014 Ina Statement Posted On Facebook ,Appler Said Ressa And Santos Have Received The Decision Will Avail Of All Legal Remedies ,Ncluding Elevating The Decision To Supreme Court For Review Quot While Is Unfortunate ,T Is Alsoa Good Opportunity For The Supreme Court To Takea Second Look At Constitutionality Of Cyber Libel And Continuing Criminalization ,Specially In Light Of The Freedom Expression And Press ,Uot Rappler Stated Quot The Decision Weakens Ability Of Journalists To Hold Power Account We Call On Our Media Colleagues ,Our Community ,Nd Other Advocates Ofa Free And Independent Press To Be Vocal Vigilant Now More Than Ever This Is Not Just About Maria Ressa ,Ey Santos Jr ,R Rappler What Is Ultimately At Stake Our Democracy Whose Strength Rests Ona Media That Not Threatened By The State Nor Intimidated Forces Out To Silence Critical Voices Quot Pna ,

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