Binasahan na ng sakdal sa kasong cyber libel si Maria Ressa, executive editor at chief executive officer ng online publication na Rappler.
Hindi nagpasok ng plea si Ressa at kapwa akusado na si Reynaldo Santos Jr., kaya’t batay sa panuntunan, ang korte na ang nagpasok ng not guilty plea para sa akusado.
Ayon kay Atty. Theodore Te, abogado ni Ressa, dadaan muna sila sa mediation bago ang pre-trial na itinakda ng korte sa May 21.
Sinabi ni Te na mayroon rin silang 60 araw para pagpasyahan kung kukuwestiyonin nila sa Korte Suprema ang kaso.
The question here has always been hard. The information does not charge an offense, so, that’s just being consistent with our position that there’s no offense stated. But, of course, we recognized the court’s jurisdiction over her, and therefore the procedure there is not to enter a plea allow the court to just state that she is availing of her sanction of innocence re-entering a plea of not guilty.” paliwang ni Te.