Ahead of the verdict on the cyber libel case against former journalist Reynaldo Santos Jr and Rappler editor-in-chief Maria Ressa, Amnesty International reiterates its concerns that the pair are being prosecuted on politically-motivated grounds simply for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression. The verdict, due on 15 June 2020, follows the Philippine government’s disturbing moves to shut down the country’s largest media agency, ABS-CBN, in May 2020. The organization calls on the Philippine authorities to immediately halt its crackdown on media freedom, journalists, and critics of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration and its deadly “war on drugs”.
