And in the Philippines, award-winning journalist Maria Ressa was released on bail early Thursday following her arrest in a cyber libel case that’s widely seen as politically motivated. Ressa is the founder of the independent news site Rappler and a vocal critic of the Philippines’ authoritarian president, Rodrigo Duterte. This is Maria Ressa, speaking just after her release from the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.
Maria Ressa: “My stay last night at the NBI really made me think about what this is all about. Right? And for me, it’s about two things: abuse of power and weaponization of the law. This isn’t just about me, and it’s not just about Rappler. The message that the government is sending is very clear, and someone actually told our reporter this last night: Be silent, or you’re next. So, I’m saying and I’m appealing to you not to be silent, even if, and especially if, you’re next.”
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