MANILA: Philippine journalist Maria Ressa was expected to be released on bail Thursday, after her arrest sparked international condemnation and allegations she is being targeted over her news site's criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte. Philippine journalist Maria Ressa and her website have been hit with tax evasion charges and now a libel case after clashing repeatedly with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte over his deadly crackdown on narcotics that has killed thousands. It's a weaponisation of the law," Ressa told journalists as she prepared to head to court. "The arrest of Maria Ressa is an outrage," said Committee to Protect Journalists Board Chair Kathleen Carroll. Ressa insists the site is not anti-Duterte, saying it is just doing its job to hold the government to account.

Source: Bangkok Post February 14, 2019 03:11 UTC