黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� High-profile Philippine journalist Maria Ressa says the libel charge that could see her jailed next week is a government ploy to intimidate all critical voices, but she refuses to be silenced and still holds out hope of winning.

In an exclusive video interview with AFP ahead of Monday鈥檚 verdict that could see her sentenced for up to 12 years, Ressa admitted being scared but also continued to speak defiantly.

鈥淚鈥檝e been the cautionary tale: be quiet or you鈥檙e next鈥� that鈥檚 part of the reason why I have been targeted,鈥� said Ressa, 56, the co-founder of news site Rappler and a former CNN journalist.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a chilling effect鈥� not just to me and to Rappler, but to journalists and to anyone who asks critical questions.鈥�

Monday鈥檚 verdict will decide a case that stems from a businessman鈥檚 complaint in 2017 over a Rappler story five years earlier about his alleged ties to a then-judge on the nation鈥檚 top court.

Government investigators initially dismissed the businessman鈥檚 allegation.

But state prosecutors later revived the case using a controversial cyber crime statute aimed at online offences ranging from stalking to child pornography.

Authorities say they have not targeted Ressa for her work and are simply enforcing the law.

But press and media watchdogs say the case against Ressa is in retaliation for Rappler鈥檚 independent reporting on President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration.

The website鈥檚 journalists have cast a harsh light on Duterte鈥檚 anti-drugs crackdown, which has killed thousands and drawn international censure despite being backed by many Filipinos.

Another one of the most prominent critics of Duterte鈥檚 narco war, Senator Leila de Lima, has been in jail for three years over drug allegations that she says are trumped up.

Ressa鈥檚 libel case is among a string of criminal charges that have hit her and Rappler since last year, many of which stem from allegations over how the site raised investment money.

鈥楨mbracing my fear鈥�

The multiple moves against Rappler have drawn international concern and made Ressa a cause celebre globally for people standing up against authoritarian governments.

Time magazine named Ressa a Person of the Year in 2018.

Rights watchdogs say the Duterte government has in recent weeks stepped up its campaign to silence dissent in other ways, with the nation鈥檚 top broadcaster 鈥� ABS-CBN 鈥� shutdown.

Lawmkers also this month passed the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, which allows warrantless arrests, weeks of detention without charge and other measures that critics fear could be used to crack down on peaceful government opponents.

Ressa said Duterte had cemented himself as the most powerful Filipino leader since dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whose two decades in power ended in a famous 鈥減eople power鈥� uprising in 1986.

鈥淲e could even say more powerful than Marcos because he (Duterte) was able to declare martial law without even declaring martial law,鈥� Ressa said, referring to the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Ressa, who served as CNN鈥檚 bureau chief in Manila and Jakarta during a nearly 35-year career, said waiting for Monday鈥檚 verdict was proving an emotional challenge.

鈥淚 am going to embrace my fear. I have to be ready and that starts in my head. That starts with my ability to be okay with the worst-case scenario,鈥� she said from her Manila home.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to be surprised.鈥�

The independence of the judicial system in the Philippines, which has long had a reputation for corruption, has been further eroded during Duterte鈥檚 four years in power, according to rights groups.

But Ressa said individual people who make up the court system and their desire 鈥渢o be guided by the spirit of the law鈥� still give her reason for optimism.

Regardless of the pressure from the highest levels of power to convict, it is up to the judge to make the final decision.

鈥淚鈥檓 hoping. All I can do is hope,鈥� Ressa said.