MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has denied involvement in the arrest of Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa for cyber libel case in relation to an article that was published in the online news website in 2012.
In an ambush interview in Bulacan on Thursday evening, Duterte said he does not have any knowledge on Ressa’s arrest and that he does not personally know businessman Wilfredo Keng who filed the cyber libel case.
“Hindi ko kilala iyang si Keng. Frankly, I don’t know him or what prompted him to file a case,” Duterte said. “Susmaryosep, (the arrest of Ressa is) far from (government launching a crackdown on media).”
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier denied Duterte’s hand in Ressa’s arrest despite the latter insisting that her capture was due to Rappler being critical of the President.
“Ang nagdedemanda dito [ay isang] private citizen. Kumbaga siya ang nagrereklamo na ni-libel siya. Kung si Presidente Duterte naging subject ng alipusta, walang dinemanda eh,” said Panelo.
He added: “Walang kaugnayan sa freedom of expression ‘yung arrest dahil kung mismo ang presidente ang subject ng libel ay walang ginagawa, bakit naman papatulan ng isang private citizen?”
The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Keng in relation to an article published by Rappler titled “CJ using SUVs of controversial businessman” during the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Based on the news report of former Rappler reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr., Keng allegedly lend his black Chevrolet Suburban to former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was then facing an impeachment complaint.
Rappler reported that the SUV, which bore the plate number ZWK 111, was registered under the name of Keng at the Land Transportation Office. While Keng admitted ZWK 111 was his, he said he does not own the SUV Corona had been using.
Aside from the cyber libel case, Ressa is also facing tax-related cases before the Court of Tax Appeals and the Pasig Regional Trial Court.
She later posted bail for the CTA and RTC cases./PN
