Journalist Maria Ressa and Rappler Holdings Corp. (RHC) have been acquitted of their fifth and last tax evasion case, her latest legal victory over the slew of charges thrown at her by the previous administration of Rodrigo Duterte. In acquitting RHC and Ressa, Tomacruz ruled that the PDR transactions were merely investment activities to raise capital. Her decision mirrored those of the other four tax cases filed with and later dismissed by the Court of Tax Appeals, as these cases were hinged on identical facts. ‘Court system works’Smiling as she exited the court, Ressa told reporters that the decision “strengthens our resolve to continue with the justice system, to submit ourselves to the court despite the political harassment, despite the attacks on press freedom.”“It shows that the court system works and we hope that the remaining cases are dismissed,” said the veteran journalist and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize awardee. In 2019, Ressa was also charged in connection with that partnership for violating the Anti-Dummy Law (Commonwealth Act No.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 13, 2023 01:30 UTC