Ressa

Solons hail nobel laureate Maria Ressa

October 11, 2021 Jester P. Manalastas 295 views

SOME House leaders and members extended congratulations to Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa for winning the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.

Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said Ressa has brought the country pride and honor.

On the other hand, the Makabayan bloc has filed House Resolution 2287 to commend and congratulate the online journalist for being the first Filipino awardee of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.

“It’s a personal achievement for her. She holds the distinction of being the first Filipino to be honored with such a much-coveted award,” Rodriguez said.

“It’s a recognition of her and her news organization’s incessant struggle for and defense of press freedom and freedom of expression. It carries with it the responsibility to pursue such a fight,” he said.

According to Rodriguez, the baseless charges for cyber libel were filed against Ressa but she fought on with determination and resolve.

“Despite this, Rappler continued to present news as they are, objectively, without fear or favor, regardless of whomsoever may be affected,” he said.

Rodriguez clarified that there is press freedom and freedom of expression under the Duterte administration because the press is absolutely free and people are free to say what they want to say, subject only to the bounds set by law.

Last October 8, 2021, The Norwegian Nobel Committee decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2021 to Maria Ressa and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov.

Ressa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has noted Ms. Ressa’s “courageous fight for freedom of expression…” and they noted that she represents “journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlo Isagani Zarate said Ressa’s Nobel Peace Prize award has put the Philippines front and center in the continuous struggle for Press Freedom at a time when its suppression has become more creative –instead of outright censorship against media outfits critical of the present, administration, it has resorted to red-tagging, harassment, fake news articles, troll attacks, cyber-attacks.

“Now the international spotlight is on the Philippines especially on the issue of press freedom and attacks on human rights. We must not let this opportunity pass and let the whole world know that we are fighting against a tyrant and we will not stop until we succeed,” Zarate said.