VP Leni asks journos to remain steadfast amid threats

Robredo: Arrest of Maria Ressa ‘very obvious’ harassment

Vice President Leni Robredo called on journalists to remain steadfast, amid threats against news agencies and individuals critical of the administration.

VP Leni underscored the important role that the media plays in society as bearers of the truth.

“Sana iyong mga members ng media, hindi matakot, dahil lahat tayo umaasa sa media. Lahat tayo umaasa na iyong ibibigay ng media sa atin, fair saka balanced na reporting,” she said in an interview in Naga City on Thursday, Feb. 14. “Sana iyong pag-sample sa ibang members ng media, hindi maging deterrent para gawin pa din natin iyong trabaho natin.”

VP Leni issued the call following the arrest of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa for a cyber libel case on Wednesday, which she earlier denounced “in the strongest terms.”

The incident, according to the Vice President, is a “very obvious” show of harassment on those who dare to speak against the administration—reminiscent to efforts to curtail press freedom during Martial Law.

“Madali lang naman kasing sabihing walang koneksyon, pero tayong observers, alam natin na mayroon. Unang una, sini-single out. Iyong sa akin lang, bakit iyong nakakaramdam ng ganitong klaseng harassment, iyong mga tao o institusyon na naglalakas ng loob na kumontra? Bakit iyong naglalakas ng loob kumontra, lahat na diperensiya hinahanap sa kaniya?” she said.

“Iyong sa atin, hindi naman natin sinasabi na kung nagkakamali, huwag punahin,” she added. “Halimbawa, may pagkakamali iyong Rappler, ayusin iyong to make them accountable, hindi iyong lahat na klaseng harassment—naaalala natin, nagsimula ito sa mga tax cases, tapos iyong kanilang registration sa SEC, tapos ngayon naman cyberlibel. Very obvious, very obvious iyong harassment.”