Philippine journalist Ressa takes stand to rebut gov't tax evasion lawsuits

MANILA, March 4 (Reuters) - Veteran Philippine journalist
Maria Ressa, who runs a website known for its tough scrutiny of
President Rodrigo Duterte, took the witness stand for the first
time on Thursday to counter tax evasion charges that she
maintains were politically motivated.
Ressa, a Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2018 for
fighting media intimidation, is facing several government
lawsuits that have stoked international concern about harassment
of journalists in the Philippines, a country once seen as a
standard bearer for press freedom in Asia.
Speaking to reporters after testifying for two and a half
hours in Manila, Ressa asked the government to allow journalists
to work freely and independently. "We're here to work with you,
and you will want us to do that," she said.
Ressa, 57, chief executive of the news site Rappler
(www.rappler.com), was convicted of libel in June 2020 and
sentenced to up to six years in prison, a ruling widely seen as
a blow to democratic freedoms under Duterte's increasingly
popular authoritarianism. She was freed on bail. Her court appearance on Thursday is over accusations that
Rappler falsified tax returns by omitting the proceeds of a sale
of depositary receipts to foreign investors, which later became
the securities regulator's basis to revoke its licence to
operate.
The securities regulator alleges that Rappler allowed
foreigners to illegally own shares in a domestic media firm, a
charge it denies. Rappler is still operating pending its appeal
against its license being revoked.
Ressa, the last witness to be presented by the defence in
the tax evasion lawsuits, said she decided to take the stand
because "no one knows (the company) better".
"I felt good afterwards. I was happy to talk to respond to
the charges," she said. "If the government believes that they
can intimidate me, no, I won't allow it."
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque has repeatedly said
Duterte supported freedom of speech even as the mercurial leader
has publicly lashed out at Rappler, calling it a "fake news
outlet" sponsored by American spies.