Manila court denies Ressa partial motion for reconsideration for cyberlibel

July 25, 2020

The Manila City Regional Trial Court denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Rappler Chief Executive Officer Maria Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos, Jr. seeking a reversal of its decision finding them guilty of committing the crime of cyber libel.

In a 13-page decision Friday, Branch 46 Presiding Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa denied their motion for partial consideration “for lack of merit.”

Montesa said there is no sufficient basis that would reverse her earlier decision finding the accused guilty for an article in January 2019 linking businessman Wilfredo Keng to human trafficking and drug smuggling.

Last month, Montesa found Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. guilty of cyber libel and sentenced them to six months and one day to up to six years in jail.

Ressa and Santos remain free after being granted post-conviction bail as they expect to file a motion for reconsideration of the decision or an appeal before the Court of Appeals.

The court also ordered Ressa and Santos  to jointly and severally pay complainant Keng P200,000 in moral damages and P200,000 in exemplary damages.

Montesa, in her earlier decision said ''there is no curtailment of the right to freedom of speech and of the press." DMS