The United States urged the Philippines to quickly resolve the case against Ms Ressa and allow her and her news site Rappler to "operate freely." "The press in this country is under attack... We won't take the threat sitting down," Ms Ressa told reporters after her release on the equivalent of $1,700 bail. A State Department spokesperson said the United States was "concerned" about Ms Ressa's arrest and called on the Philippines to respect freedom of the press. Philippine authorities first arrested Ms Ressa in February on an internet libel charge, which sparked international condemnation and allegations that she was being targeted for Rappler's critical stance on Mr Duterte. Ms Ressa insists Rappler is not anti-Duterte, saying it is just doing its job to hold the government to account.

Source: Daily Nation March 30, 2019 03:00 UTC