MANILA, Philippines — Rappler CEO Maria Ressa is “playing the victim card” when she talked about the shutdown of embattled media giant ABS-CBN after filing her not guilty plea to a tax evasion charge, Malacañang said Wednesday. Ressa appeared before the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 157 for her arraignment over her alleged failure to provide correct information to Rappler’s value-added tax (VAT) return in 2015. ADVERTISEMENTAfter pleading not guilty, Ressa brought up the ABS-CBN issue, saying that what happened to the television network can happen to other media entities President Rodrigo Duterte wanted out. We need to continue to demand accountability,” Ressa said in a press conference aired by Rappler. But Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque rejected Ressa’s claims and reiterated that Malacañang is “hands-off” in the ABS-CBN franchise issue.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 22, 2020 07:41 UTC