Nieman Foundation at Harvard
“On 3 April, Ressa will learn the outcome of a libel trial brought against her. If she loses, the sentence is a maximum of 12 years: in the Philippines, defamation remains a criminal offence. Other regime-led prosecutions are pending, for allegations ranging from tax offences to foreign ownership. She has been arrested and bailed eight times in the past year. Ressa has assembled a formidable defence team of 40 lawyers, including the London barrister Amal Clooney. If found guilty on all counts, she faces up to 83 years in prison.”
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