VERDICT PRIMER: Legal and factual issues in Rappler, Maria Ressa cyber libel case

Cyber libel is punishable by jail time of 6 months and 1 day to up to 7 years. If acquitted, Maria Ressa faces 7 other criminal charges. HoldTheLine DefendPressFreedom CourageON

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra had said this was not an attack on press freedom because"the law on libel applies to everyone, not only to journalists.”

In justifying that, the DOJ used the 1988 case Soriano vs Intermediate Appellate Court where the Court saidIn that case that concerns jurisdiction, the Supreme Court said"that each and every publication of the same libel constitutes a distinct offense," and that "Even assuming only for the sake of argument that 'republication' applies, it can only apply if there was a substantial change," said Rappler in the memorandum submitted to the court, and prepared by FLAG.

FLAG said that the act of sharing on the internet and the act of republishing are similar in some ways.It was an article about the late former chief justice Renato Corona, and his alleged use of vehicles from businessmen, including Keng. "The prosecution cannot simply rely on the presumption of malice. Its burden is to prove actual malice or malice in fact," FLAG added."Rappler tarnished my good reputation despite all the evidence and certifications I gave them clearing my name of any criminal case," said Keng in a statement on Saturday.

"Mr. Malonzo’s testimony cannot be given full probative weight as it is clearly biased in favor of the private complainant," said FLAG.

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