MANILA: Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, whose news site has repeatedly clashed with President Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested in her Manila office on Wednesday in what press freedom advocates branded an act of “persecution”.
Her detention on a charge of “cyber libel” is a dramatic escalation in government pressure bearing down on Ressa and her website Rappler, which was already facing tax evasion charges that could shut it down.
It comes after Duterte has cracked down on high-profile critics in the press and legislature who dared criticise his signature anti-drug campaign that has killed thousands.
“She’s been arrested and she’s been read her rights,” Rappler co-founder Beth Frondoso told AFP. “Fingers crossed — we’ll try to post bail tonight.”
Ressa, who was named a Time Magazine “Person of the Year” in 2018 for her journalism, left the Rappler offices with plain clothes officers and surrounded by cameras.
