Rappler chief Maria Ressa was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, early Friday after a court issued an arrest warrant in connection with her alleged violation of the Anti-Dummy Law.
Two female police officials served the warrant to Ressa after she landed at the country’s main gateway at around 7 a.m.
“Will they actually arrest me again?! @rapplerdotcom this is insane. Such violations of the Bill of Rights and the PH Constitution,” Ressa said in a tweet shortly after she was confronted by the police.
Ressa also posted a photo of her riding a vehicle and is being transported to Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 265, according to a another tweet.
The Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 265 issued the warrant, Thursday, a day before Ressa returned from her San Francisco trip.
“It’s kind of interesting, I have 9 policemen escorting me along with my trusty lawyer,” Ressa told ANC’s Early Edition.
“This is a travesty of justice. I have done nothing wrong. I am not a criminal. I am treat[ed] like a criminal,” she said.
The case stemmed from a National Bureau of Investigation complaint related to the issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts to Omidyar Network, an Indonesian company that invested in the online news website.
“Coming home to confront yet another ridiculous criminal case. I didn’t expect the PH government to make my joke about collecting arrest warrants a reality. This will be my 7th. For being a journalist. All these acts violating the Bill of Rights will be remembered,” the Rappler chief said in tweet before flying back to Manila.
Ressa is also facing a libel complaint over several reports that exposed a supposed labor conflict within the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in 2017.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue is also reviewing Rappler’s tax records for possible deficiencies.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story mentioned that Ressa was arrested Friday over a tax evasion case. We regret the error.
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source: abs-cbn