Philippine court rejects latest tax charges against Nobel laureate
The Philippine court
a 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner along with a Russian journalist, is the head of Rappler, which has built a reputation on its scrutiny of former President Rodrigo Duterte and war killer his war against drugs.
After the verdict was announced, Ressa told reporters she felt “good” about the court’s decision. Ressa’s acquittal was expected after she was cleared of similar tax charges nine months ago.
A Philippine court has acquitted Nobel laureate Maria Ressa and her publication Rappler of tax evasion charges, delivering another legal victory for the journalist who rose to international fame for her investigations.
in-depth about President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration.
In the 18-page ruling, Judge Ana Teresa Cornejo-Tomacruz of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court acquitted Ressa and Rappler “on the grounds that they did not commit the crimes alleged in that information.
”Today’s case is the fifth and final complaint filed by the Internal Revenue Service against Ressa and Rappler Holdings Corporation (RHC) in March 2018, claiming that Rappler evaded taxes by failing to report its Capital was raised through the sale of certificates of deposit in 2015..to foreign investors.
The first four charges were dismissed by the Court of Tax Appeals in January.
Specifically, the court ruled that RHC was not acting as a securities dealer at the time of the sale and therefore did not incur any tax liability.
re Ressa told reporters that his acquittal sent a “good signal” to the business world because his taxes “have a lot to do with the rule of law.”
As reported by Reuters
Ressa said: “The acquittal now strengthens our resolve to continue legal action, to submit to the court despite political harassment, despite the attack on freedom of the press”.
“This shows that the justice system is working effectively.
We hope the other charges will be dismissed.
As founder and editor-in-chief of Rappler, Ressa has attracted international attention for her fearless assessment of President Duterte – especially his campaign of violence against illegal drugs.
Ressa’s supporters, as well as most objective observers, have dismissed these allegations as a political plot to silence one of the Duterte administration’s most persistent critics.
In recognition of her work and the repression she faced from the Duterte administration, Ressa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, along with Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov.
“This is a victory not only for Rappler but for all those who have held fast to the belief that a free and responsible press empowers communities and strengthens the community,” Rappler said in a statement.
democracy”.
“We share this with our colleagues in the field who are besieged by relentless online attacks, unfair arrests and detentions, and red-tagging leading to physical harm .
»The facts in the tax case heard in Pasig were nearly identical to the four charges dismissed by the Court of Tax Appeals in January, as were the grounds for the court’s acquittal.
In that case, judges ordered acquittal due to the prosecution’s “inability to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt”.
As Rappler itself explained in a report released today, with the dismissal of the latest tax evasion charges, there are only two active cases remaining against Rappler and its CEO.
The first is an appeal of the 2020 cyber libel verdict against Ressa and former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr., pending before the Supreme Court.
The second is an appeal of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s 2018 closure order alleging violations of foreign ownership regulations, pending resolution by the Court of Appeals.
(Rappler has been allowed to continue operating while the case is pending.)
It has taken time, but Philippine courts are gradually releasing Ressa and Rappler from the tight legal constraints that the Duterte administration has placed on them.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who has been in office for 14 months, has said he would not interfere in the court cases against Rappler.
Rappler is still operating unhindered pending its appeal against a closure order from the securities regulator.
The Philippines is ranked 132 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, describing its media as “extremely vibrant despite the government’s targeted attacks and constant harassment” against journalists that are “too critical.”
