Maria Ressa’s libel trial opens in Philippines
High-profile Philippine journalist Maria Ressa’s libel trial opened yesterday in a case that she and press freedom advocates see as government retaliation for her news site’s critical reporting on President Rodrigo Duterte. Ressa, who leads online outlet Rappler and was named a Time Magazine “Person of the Year” in 2018 for her journalism, is out on bail and faces years in prison if convicted under the criminal cyber-libel law. The news portal has written extensively and often critically on Duterte’s policies, including his deadly drugs war that rights groups say may be a crime against humanity. Besides the libel case, Ressa and Rappler have been hit with 10 other criminal charges over the past year. esterday’s brief hearing ended after testimony from one minor witness, with the case set to resume on July 30.
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