(Bullit Marquez/AP)MANILA, Philippines — The award-winning head of a Philippine online news site that has aggressively covered President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration was freed on bail Thursday after her arrest in a libel case. Duterte’s government said the arrest was a normal step in response to a criminal complaint. “What we’re seeing is death by a thousand cuts of our democracy,” Ressa told reporters after posting bail in the Manila regional trial court that issued a warrant for her arrest. She accused the government of abusing its power and of using the law as a weapon to muzzle dissent. Amnesty International Philippines said Ressa’s arrest was based on a “trumped up libel charge.”“This is brazenly politically motivated, and consistent with the authorities’ threats and repeated targeting of Ressa and her team,” it said.

Source: Washington Post February 14, 2019 00:48 UTC