Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC condemns Philippines court over increased prison sentence for journalist Maria Ressa

Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC

The Irish-born barrister, who practices with Doughty Street Chambers in London, leads the international legal team acting for Ms Ressa along with Amal Clooney.

Ms Ressa, the co-founder of news website Rappler and a Nobel peace prize laureate, was charged with “cyber libel”, a crime in the Philippines, after Rappler published a story about alleged corruption by the chief justice of the Philippines Supreme Court.

The article, which was not authored by Ms Ressa, stated that the judge drove a car belonging to a businessman with an allegedly “shady past”. It was alleged that this tarnished the businessman’s reputation and that, as a result, Ms Ressa should be imprisoned for up to six years and eight months.

The sentence is based on a law that did not exist when the article was published and on charges that were brought six years after the time limit expired.

In its decision, the Court of Appeals upheld the June 2020 decision of Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa at the Manila Regional Trial Court, convicting Ms Ressa and former Rappler journalist Reynaldo Santos Jr., and adding a further eight months and 20 days to their prison sentences.

Ms Gallagher said: “This is a pivotal moment for the Philippines. Duterte leaves behind a country in which press freedom, human rights and the rule of law have been severely weakened. The world is watching how the new president responds.

“Will President Ferdinand Marcos Jr stop the rot, or will he double down on his predecessor’s attacks on journalists and civil society? On the eve of his inauguration day, another journalist was added to the Philippines’ death toll.

“Now the Court of Appeals has confirmed Ms Ressa’s conviction on baseless charges and it has even increased her prison sentence. We call on the international community to condemn this ruling in the strongest terms, and to make clear to the new administration the vital importance of press freedom, human rights and the rule of law.”

Ms Gallagher and Ms Clooney lead the international counsel team acting for Ms Ressa, working with fellow barristers Can Yeginsu and Claire Overman. The team works closely with Peter Lichtenbaum, Stephen Rademaker, Rani Gupta and Lisa Peets of Covington & Burling LLP, as well as Ms Ressa’s counsel team in Manila.