Top Trending topic online! Manila court convicts Rappler CEO Maria Ressa over the cyber libel case filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng. She becomes emotional as she appeals to Filipinos to keep their eyes open: Sa mga Pilipino nanunuod hindi lang ito tungkol sa Rappler, tungkol ito sainyo. Freedom of the press is the foundation of every single right as a Filipino citizen.

Watch the full video below: (Courtesy video by CNN Philippines)

Rappler CEO Maria Ressa told to the reporters, “I appeal to you, the journalists in the room, the Filipinos who are listening, to protect your rights. We’re meant to be a cautionary tale, we are meant to make you afraid. I appeal again, don’t be afraid,” she told reporters.

“Because if you don’t use your rights, you will lose them. If we don’t challenge a brazen move to try to roll back the rights guaranteed in the constitution, we will lose them. We shouldn’t be voluntarily giving up our rights.”

According to former Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te, Ressa and Santos will remain on bail they previously posted and have been given 15 days to consider their next move.

He stated, “Obviously legal steps forward would include questioning the decision and the appropriate proceeding. We still have to meet, we’ll have to go over the decision carefully.”

In Inquirer news, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the guilty verdict handed down to Rappler‘s Maria Ressa and a writer-researcher sends a “chilling message” against critics of the administration.

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