NBI arrests Rappler editor-in-chief, former reporter for cyber libel

February 13, 2019

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested Maria Ressa, editor-in-chief of online news website Rappler Wednesday night after securing a warrant of arrest from Manila City Regional Trial Court.

Agents of the NBI Cybercrime Division served the arrest warrant on Ressa in her office in Pasig City.

In a brief interview with reporters before she was brought by NBI agents to their headquarters, Ressa said she has yet to receive a copy of the indictment from the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“The fact that an arrest warrant was issued is very interesting and I will follow. I am just shocked the rule of law has been broken to the point that I can't see it,” she said.

Ressa's counsel, Darwin Angeles, said they will cooperate with authorities.

Television news showed footage of Ressa being brought to the third floor of the NBI, which is the  cybercrime division past 7 pm.

Judge Reinelda Estacio-Montesa issued the warrant last Tuesday and gave law enforcement agencies 10 days to serve it to Ressa. The arrest warrant also covered former reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Ressa could post bail "At any rate, the simple solution is to post bail, whichever case it may be against Ms. Ressa," he said.

Guevarra filed the cyber libel case against Santos and Ressa over an article in 2012, which linked businessman Wilfredo Keng to criminal activities.

The DOJ found probable cause in the complaint by the National Bureau of Investigation and Keng for violating Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act in March 2018.

Uploaded in May 2012, the article written by Santos cited an “intelligence report,” saying Keng had been under surveillance for his alleged involvement in human trafficking and drug smuggling.

The justice department rejected the defense of the respondents that they could not be held liable under RA 10175, signed in September 2012 or four months after the article was posted on the news website.

It said the updated version of the article, which was posted by Rappler on Feb. 19, 2014, was covered by the law.

The DOJ also rejected the defense of the respondents that the complaint should be dismissed because of the one-year prescription period on libel cases, saying such rule does not apply to cyber libel DMS