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| Rappler's founder and CEO Maria Ressa / file photo from Philstar |
The long arm of the law is finally catching up on Rappler’s President and CEO Maria Ressa.
The news website Rappler has been known to be one of the fieriest critics of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s administration and has been perceived by many that is always biased in favor of the former President Benigno “Noynoy” Simeon Aquino III and to the members his once powerful Liberal party.
Violation of tax laws
Following the scrutiny of the Bureau of Internal Revenue(BIR) of its accounting papers/documents and the investigation done by the Department of Justice it would show that Rappler through its President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maria Ressa it is in direct violation of our tax laws.
Over the weekend, Ressa herself confirms that an arrest warrant has already been issued under her name, stemming from the tax evasion charges filed by the government against her.
"Our lawyers have verified. A warrant of arrest was issued," Ressa, who had just landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, said on Rappler's Twitter account.
"I’m ready to post bail. Easier to navigate a warzone than the social media landscape in this country."
Ressa holds the government accountable
Ressa also said that she is holding the government accountable for calling her a criminal.
"I am going to publicly hold my government accountable for calling me a criminal. I am not a criminal. I have been a journalist for my entire life. I will continue to hold my government accountable," she said.
Atty. Francis Lim who stands as the counsel of Ressa said, if her client was arrested on a Sunday, they will post a bail on Monday with the prayer to the court that his client be momentarily set free.*
In her interview with Rappler, Ressa vows to fight all the cases thrown at her, "We hold the line. We'll just continue. We'll challenge it.”
"I am personally under attack, Rappler is under attack... I think we all know that the line has been moved."
Ressa reiterates that she had successfully and legally raised money for the news website- Rappler.
Currently, Rappler – the news website and Ressa as CEO are facing four tax evasion complaints from the Court of Tax Appeals.
Another case was filed in the Regional Trial Court in Pasig city which alleges that the news site (Rappler) violated Section 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) and failed to report its total quarterly sales receipts coming from the issuance and sale of Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDR) in the second quarter of 2015.
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| Rappler CEO and Exec. Editor Maria Ressa arrives in Manila / Photo via Twitter |
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