WPF stands resolutely against the harrowing threats and acts of violence directed at journalists Joann Manabat and Rowena Quejada in Angeles City, Philippines, on March 12, 2024.

CFWIJ and WPF celebrates the recent triumph in the legal battle of Nobel laureate Maria Ressa in the Philippines.

Philippine court ruling clears Rappler CEO and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa of the last tax evasion charge levied against her and the outlet.

It has been an uphill battle for Rappler CEO and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa against the Philippine judicial system and the libel case lodged against her in 2018.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and journalist Maria Ressa’s independent online news portal Rappler has been ordered shut by the Philippines Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) yet again.

Rappler was threatened with legal action by the state’s National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, which labeled one of the publication’s articles as “disinformation”.

Filipino veteran journalist, Raissa Robles filed complaints against the notorious lawyer and senatorial candidate Larry Gadon over a vicious video sexually harassing her.

As Filipino journalist Maria Ressa headed to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, a new lawsuit was filed against her news outlet Rappler.

Correspondent for Rappler, Lorraine Ecarma was restricted by the police from covering the release of human rights activist and Lumad teacher Chad Booc. She was denied entry into the police station at the time of the release, and once let inside was neither allowed to film the event nor interview Booc.

Chiara Zambrano from ABS-CBN, and her news team were on an assignment in the west Philippines sea close to Palawan province. The journalist was investigating where Filipino fishermen relocated after losing their former fishing grounds to Chinese vessels. The news team was headed towards a reef surface to interview Philippine military detachments who presumably provide security to fishermen anchored there. On their way to Ayungin Shoal, the Filipino crew spotted a Chinese coast guard ship and received a radio message to identify themselves. The boat operator could not respond as the message was in English, and he did not understand. Moments later, the Filipino vessel carrying Chiara Zambrano and her news team was chased by two missile-equipped Chinese boats until they returned to Palawan region. CFWIJ is concerned by this drastic and unjustified threat to Chiara Zambrano and her team.

Inday Espina-Varona, a senior contributing editor for ABS-CBN, has faced persistent harassment and threats. She says the hostile environment towards journalists has worsened since President Duterte took office in 2016. Inday has been targeted online by slurs, hurtful comments and accusations of providing sensitive information to rebel groups. The journalist admitted she lives in constant fear given the precarious position of press freedom in the country. CFWIJ condemns the harassment towards Inday and asks President Duterte to end the crackdown on critical voices.

Rappler CEO & Executive Editor, Maria Ressa, was once again summoned to court. In the latest legal challenge, Maria faces charges of tax evasion. The prosecutor believes Rapplers' parent company owed sales taxes, given their alleged dealings in financial securities. These accusations are the latest in the slew of baseless claims filed against the journalist. CFWIJ condemns the relentless legal harassment of Maria Ressa and demands the Filipino government end the unjustified torment against her.

Journalist Lady Ann Salem continues to be detained in jail despite the fact that the court dismissed all charges against her due to police misconduct. Ann was arrested on December 10, 2020, and has been in prison since despite being innocent.

A Mandaluyong court cleared journalist Ann Salem and trade unionist Rodrigo Esparago of all charges and voided the search warrant that was issued against them. Salem and Espargo were arrested on December 10, 2020.

Maria Ressa was charged in yet another cyber libel case for her role as an executive editor of Rappler— a position she vacated in June of 2020. The libel suit was filed in response to an article titled, “ Thesis for sale at the De La Salle - College of St. Benilde.” The piece alleges Ariel Pineda, a professor at St. Benilde college, of accepting PHP20,000 bribe from students to clear their theses. Rambo Talabong, the Rappler reporter who wrote the article, is also named in the same libel suit.