Maria Ressa, speaker at the 2020 Camden Conference, was convicted of “cyber libel” in the Philippines on Monday, June 15. (See CC announcement HERE)

When we reached out for more information, Maria’s agent, Pierre Bisaillon, sent this response:

“Yesterday was a day of grief, mourning, and rage for all of us working with Maria. Manila RTC Judge Rainelda Estacio Montesa convicted Rappler CEO and Executive Editor Maria Ressa and former researcher-writer Rey Santos Jr of cyber libel. You can read Rappler’s statement here. https://www.rappler.com/nation/263817-statement-conviction-maria-ressa-reynaldo-santos-jr-cyber-libel-case. Maria now faces up to 6 years in prison.

We call on our media colleagues, our community, and other advocates of a free and independent press to be vigilant and vocal now more than ever.

To help us during this time, we hope you can share the ways on how people can support Rappler.

Here are links which you can share or amplify to your network:

Thank you so much for your support!”

Please note that donations are being accepted through RAPPLER.COM for Maria’s legal defense fund HERE: r3.rappler.com/crowdfunding