Dark side of Duterte's regime suppressing freedom of the press.

[Old55]

 

This is one brave Filipina.Maria Ressa knows her life is on the line but continues to fight.

 

Reuters 12/15/2020

Philippine journalist Maria Ressa says new libel case 'ludicrous'

Tue, December 15, 2020, 3:15 AM PST

MANILA (Reuters) - Maria Ressa, who heads a Philippine news website known for its tough scrutiny of President Rodrigo Duterte, refused to enter a plea on Tuesday in a second cyber libel case she faces, saying the charges against her were ludicrous.

Ressa, a Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2018, has faced a series of lawsuits that she says amount to intimidation against her and other journalists in a country previously known for upholding press freedom.

"I will take this all the way to the end, and we will win it, because it's ludicrous," Ressa, CEO of news site Rappler (www.rappler.com), told reporters outside the court in Manila.

Ressa's counsel, Theodore Te, said they had agreed to a conditional arraignment while waiting for a decision on a motion to quash the charges.

Businessman Wilfredo Keng had filed a new cyber libel case against Ressa, accusing her of sharing screenshots of a 2002 article linking him to a criminal report. Keng's lawyers did not talk to reporters after the hearing.

In June, Ressa was convicted of libel over a 2012 article that linked Keng to illegal activities. She faces up to six year in jail but is appealing the ruling.

Ressa is also facing several other cases, including tax offences and violation of foreign-ownership rules in media.

She has said the cases are a form of harassment due to her news site's critical reports on Duterte's bloody war on drugs, during which more than 5,900 suspected drug dealers and users have been killed in anti-narcotics operations.

Duterte has lambasted media agencies for critical reporting on alleged rights abuses in the campaign.

In July, lawmakers allied with the president blocked the application of media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corp, which has also angered Duterte, for a congressional franchise renewal.

As a result, the country's biggest broadcaster closed radio stations, shut down provincial offices and laid off thousands of workers.

(Reporting by Jay Ereno; Writing by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Ed Davies, Robert Birsel)

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL4N2IV1W8 

[Jack D]

21 hours ago, Old55 said:

In July, lawmakers allied with the president blocked the application of media conglomerate ABS-CBN Corp, which has also angered Duterte, for a congressional franchise renewal.

As a result, the country's biggest broadcaster closed radio stations, shut down provincial offices and laid off thousands of workers.

Just as I was starting to learn more and more Tagalog with subtitles in English, the layoffs stopped the subtitling of my favorite Filipino Channel shows on the very same  days that they were broadcasted.

I used to enjoy watching these shows with my wife (with the subtitling), but now they are subtitled one week later than the day that they were broadcasted, and my wife watches them without subtitles (and without me). 

This was something that we both used to enjoy together, but all good things seem to come to an end at some time or another, especially in the Philippines. 

[Dave Hounddriver]

The topic title says "Dark side of Duterte's regime"

You have begun with suppression of the media.  There are so many ways we can go with this but I suggest people still living in the Philippines be wary of the topic or they may face another Dark side of Duterte's regime.  That being 2 guys on a motorcycle.  They will will find you!  mwah ha ha.

[Jack D]

2 hours ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

The topic title says "Dark side of Duterte's regime"

You have begun with suppression of the media.  There are so many ways we can go with this but I suggest people still living in the Philippines be wary of the topic or they may face another Dark side of Duterte's regime.  That being 2 guys on a motorcycle.  They will will find you!  mwah ha ha.

Or possibly getting pushed out of a helicopter without a parachute... ha ha ha

 

 

 

 

[Old55]

It seems some Filipinos like a Strong Man type leader. As far as I know Duterte is still very popular. 

Sometimes my wife says she wishes Marcos were still in power that he did great things and it's best for Filipinos. She acknowledges crimes the Marcos family committed but remains nostalgic for that time.

As a foreigner I always avoid any political comments while visiting. I've had Filipinos press me for an opinion and I reply I'm only a visitor and have no right to say. My friends smile the trolls frown. 

[Jack D]

21 minutes ago, Old55 said:

Sometimes my wife says she wishes Marcos were still in power that he did great things and it's best for Filipinos. She acknowledges crimes the Marcos family committed but remains nostalgic for that time.

My wife and your wife seem to have the very same nostalgic view of the Marcos family.

[RBM]

On 12/17/2020 at 8:13 AM, Old55 said:

It seems some Filipinos like a Strong Man type leader.

I concur here, explains a lot 

[graham59]

I think the President is a wonderful human being, and a fine leader.  

[scott h]

On 12/16/2020 at 4:37 PM, Jack D said:

My wife and your wife seem to have the very same nostalgic view of the Marcos family

Add my wife to that roster

[jpbago]

23 minutes ago, scott h said:

Add my wife to that roster

Mine too.