OSG asks SC to acquit Maria Ressa, Reynaldo Santos in Duterte-time cyber libel case

The Office of the Solicitor General files a manifestation with the Supreme Court (SC) recommending that the justices acquit Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. of their Duterte-time cyber libel case.

“In light of the foregoing, and in the faithful discharge of her duties as an officer of the court and as the People’s Tribune, the Solicitor General most respectfully recommends the acquittal of petitioners on the basis of prescription,” said the OSG’s manifestation dated March Monday, March 9 but released on Tuesday, March 10.

Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 46 convicted Ressa and Santos of cyber libel in June 2020 – under former president Rodrigo Duterte’s administration — over a cyber libel complaint filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng.

The Court of Appeals denied Ressa and Santos’ appeal in 2022, prompting them to bring the case to the SC.

In recommending the acquittal, the OSG uses the Berteni Causing v. People case which clarified the prescription period of cyber libel cases. Prescription period, which varies from case to case, is the time frame where a lawsuit can be filed. A legal action filed beyond the prescription period is invalid.

Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe tells the Court that the case was filed after the prescription period for libel had already lapsed.

Ateneo Law School launches Dean Joey Hofileña Scholarship Fund

The Ateneo Law School has officially launched a scholarship fund in honor of its late dean Joey Hofileña.

The fund seeks to support students who embody Hofileña’s vision of a lawyer: “skillful as well as kind, decent, principled human beings.”

How to contribute:

1. Visit go.ateneo.edu/lawfinaid (indicate “Ateneo Law School - Dean Joey Hofileña Scholarship Fund”)

2. Bank transfer: BPI (Account Name: Ateneo de Manila University Inc. | Account Number: 3081-0264-82)

3. Email your confirmation to finaid.law@ateneo.edu and development@ateneo.edu

Read more here: https://www.ateneo.edu/news/2026/03/carrying-forward-mission-dean-joey-hofilena-scholarship-fund-established @here

@Jairo Bolledo-Rappler Please advise if there will be a separate room for AMA with Atty Ross Tugade. Maraming salamat

Hi @jep0y! You can send your questions to this room. I will be sending the YouTube link later as well so you can follow the livestream. 😊

@Aidan Bernales - Rappler Salamat

@Aidan Bernales - Rappler

1.  Can the defense appeal for interim release of Duterte or the decision of ICC to retain his detention final?


2. Are there any supporr group or probably safe houses that EJK relatives can resort to if imminent harrassment from unknown individuals happen? There might be EJK relatives who will come home from The Hague and already exposed in socmed Are there any preventive measures that government can offer or EJK families can avail of before the litigation happens?


3.  Prosecutors have asked ICC if roster of defense counsel will be changed or not?How lenient  or strict is ICC to approve list of counsels?


4. Is there a transcript of pretrial proceedings that can be downloaded and reviewed by the public?

Thanks for sending your questions @jep0y! Jairo will ask these to Atty. Tugade later. ☺️

Mahusay.Salamat

@Aidan Bernales - Rappler one more question.

5. There are still no concrete steps to create a Truth Commission about EJKs. Cases elevated to ICC are compliant cases based on their requirements. For those cases that were not elevated to that level, what leverage can ICC help to somehow have those cases strengthened at the local level leading to formal charges in the local courts? How can those cases be avoided to be disregarded when EJK families even up to now were not able to see dead bodies of their relatives?

Hi, Jepoy! Thank you for your questions :)

WE ARE LIVE! Join our Ask Me Anything session with ICC assistant to counsel Ross Tugade happening now. @here

Send your questions and share your thoughts here for a chance to have them read in this livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj2L0CdgVwU

My Q: what are the chances of Panelo serving as DU30s ICC counsel?

Thanks for the question @Monch! Jairo will relay this to Atty. Tugade.

@Jairo Bolledo-Rappler @Aidan Bernales - Rappler Thanks for amplifying those questions. Malaking tulong para sa mga EJK relatives

Thank you for asking the questions @jep0y! I hope we helped you get the answers for them.

Thank you also @Monch and @Dias for your questions. We appreciate you being a part of today's discussion.

P6.8-billion shabu on speedboat, 2 foreigners arrested

The Army 203rd Infantry Brigade in Occidental Mindoro has arrested 2 foreigners following the discovery of P6.8 billion worth of shabu on an abandoned speedboat off Paluan on Wednesday, March 11. | via Darcie de Galicia/Rappler @here

Thank you, everyone, for joining our AMA session with Atty Ross Tugade :) Join us again next time! :)