# Philippines: Maria Ressa convicted of cyber libel

Published 2026-09-23. Last reviewed 2026-09-22. 3 sources.

Status: in effect, as of 2026-09-22.

What we don't know: The sources reviewed do not include the trial court's full written reasoning for treating the 2014 correction as a new act of publication.

A Manila court convicted Rappler's Maria Ressa and researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. of criminal cyber libel and sentenced them to up to six years in prison, over a 2012 story republished after the cybercrime law used to charge them took effect.[1][2][3]

- Country: [Philippines](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/ph) (RSF 2026 rank: 114th of 180)
- Where: PH
- Level of government: National
- Tactic: Lawsuits against the press
- Stage: Punish (ladder: https://thewaronnews.com/ladders/lawsuits_against_press#stage-punish)
- Ladder note: A court convicted an outlet's executive editor of criminal cyber libel and imposed a prison sentence over a story published before the cybercrime law existed; United States lawsuits against the press in the record are civil, seeking damages, not prison time.
- Head of government at the time: [Rodrigo Duterte](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/rodrigo-duterte)
- Issue of the day: Not stated in the sources reviewed.
- Outcome: Ongoing, June 15, 2020. Ressa and Santos were convicted and sentenced but remained free pending appeal, according to the source reviewed.
- Era: The 2020s

## What happened

A Manila trial court issued its verdict on June 15, 2020, convicting Rappler executive editor Maria Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos Jr. of cyber libel over a 2012 article that linked a businessman to a Philippine chief justice. The government's case relied on Rappler's 2014 correction of a single word in the story, arguing that the correction restarted the clock for a libel charge under the Cybercrime Prevention Act, a law that took effect only after the article was first published. The court sentenced both to a prison term of up to six years, though they remained free pending appeal. CPJ said the conviction and sentencing amounted to, in its words, "an outrageous crime against press freedom," and urged Philippine authorities not to pursue the case further. The case became one of several legal proceedings Rappler faced during President Rodrigo Duterte's administration.[1][2][3]

Ongoing on appeal as of the source reviewed.[1][2][3]

## What reason was given

Not stated in the sources reviewed.[1][2][3]

## What changed for reporting

A criminal conviction carrying a possible prison term became a central legal threat hanging over Rappler's leadership for years afterward, even as the outlet continued publishing.[1]

## Timeline

- 2020-06-15: Philippines: Maria Ressa convicted of cyber libel

## Who acted

| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Rodrigo Duterte](https://thewaronnews.com/actors/rodrigo-duterte) | other | President of the Philippines |

## Outlets and journalists

| Name | Kind | Relation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Rappler](https://thewaronnews.com/outlets/rappler) | outlet | affected |
| [Maria Ressa](https://thewaronnews.com/journalists/maria-ressa) | journalist, Rappler | affected |
| [Reynaldo Santos Jr.](https://thewaronnews.com/journalists/reynaldo-santos-jr) | journalist, Rappler | affected |

## Sources

1. Rappler editor Maria Ressa convicted of cyber libel by Philippines court. https://cpj.org/2020/06/rappler-editor-maria-ressa-convicted-of-cyber-libel-by-philippines-court/ (Committee to Protect Journalists, 2020-06-15).
2. Philippine journalist convicted of libel, given 6-year term. https://apnews.com/article/manila-journalists-ap-top-news-international-news-philippines-cb026b7094fac489d60cf248eb86bbb2 (Associated Press, 2020-06-15).
3. Court convicts Rappler's Ressa on cyber libel. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/06/15/2020473/court-convicts-rapplers-ressa-cyber-libel (The Philippine Star (national paper of record), 2020-06-15).

## Claims cited

[1] CPJ's call to Philippine authorities following the verdict. Quote: "urged Philippine authorities not to contest the appeal" Source: Committee to Protect Journalists, 2020-06-15. Rappler editor Maria Ressa convicted of cyber libel by Philippines court. https://cpj.org/2020/06/rappler-editor-maria-ressa-convicted-of-cyber-libel-by-philippines-court/ Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/550, checked 2026-09-22.

[2] CPJ's description of the verdict's severity. Quote: "Today's conviction and sentencing of Maria Ressa of up to six years in jail is an outrageous crime against press freedom" Source: Committee to Protect Journalists, 2020-06-15. Rappler editor Maria Ressa convicted of cyber libel by Philippines court. https://cpj.org/2020/06/rappler-editor-maria-ressa-convicted-of-cyber-libel-by-philippines-court/ Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/673, checked 2026-09-22.

[3] Naming both defendants and the underlying case. Quote: "Rappler editor Maria Ressa Convicted of Cyber Libel by Philippines Court" Source: Committee to Protect Journalists, 2020-06-15. Rappler editor Maria Ressa convicted of cyber libel by Philippines court. https://cpj.org/2020/06/rappler-editor-maria-ressa-convicted-of-cyber-libel-by-philippines-court/ Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/674, checked 2026-09-22.

Source page: https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2020-philippines-ressa-cyber-libel-conviction. The War On News, CC BY 4.0.