Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo (File photos from Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa told presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a radio program exchange that the six times she posted bail in a span of just two months were 鈥渘ot regular.鈥�
Ressa and Panelo were guests in 鈥淥maga Diaz Report,鈥� a program anchored Henry Omaga Diaz over AM radio station DZMM on Saturday afternoon.
With Panelo talking through a phone patch and Ressa in the studio, the two guests discussed Ressa鈥檚 arrest and overnight detention at the headquarter of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over cyberlibel charges.
搁贰础顿:听Maria Ressa spends night at NBI
鈥淭he big picture is I posted bail six times in two months and that is not regular,鈥� Ressa said.
She said she respected the views of Panelo who reiterated over the radio that Ressa鈥檚 cyberlibel case had nothing to do with press freedom as this was filed by a private individual, referring to businessman Wilfredo Keng.
Panelo reiterated that President Rodrigo Duterte did not know Keng.
Panelo also denied there were irregularities on the timing of her Feb.13 arrest by NBI agents, saying the arrest warrant was served on a weekday and the agents were not required to show an information sheet as she had wanted.
搁贰础顿:听Rappler鈥檚 Maria Ressa arrested for cyberlibel
He said was Ressa was using the issue of freedom of expression against the government because a case had been filed against her.
鈥淪he wants special treatment because she did not want the arrest warrant served when the law said it can be served anytime鈥� The law should be similar to all people,鈥� he said.
On the six times Ressa posted bail in two months, he said: 鈥淚f you were charged six times, then you will post bail six times.鈥�
Ressa said she could counter 鈥渆very single鈥� one of Panelo鈥檚 statements, but this would be a 鈥渨aste of time鈥� for the people.
She asked Panelo if Rappler reporter Pia Ranada, who was banned from entering the Malaca帽an Palace premises and to cover presidential events outside, could return as this was a constitutional right.
In reply, Panelo said that, even if Ranada was prohibited from entering the Palace, her forwarded questions were being entertained.
He also said Ranada could write stories even if she was not in Malacanang,
Panelo also made it clear to Ressa his counter statements to her were not his opinion but 鈥渋s what the law says.鈥�
He maintained that the law was observed in all circumstances. /atm