A PROFESSOR of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde filed charges against Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa and reporter Rambo Talabong over a report claiming that he allows students to pass their thesis subject in exchange for money.

Professor Ariel Pineda, program director of Export Management, filed cyber libel charges against Ressa and Talabong in connection with the report that claimed that he received P20,000 through a middleman.

The information for cyber libel was dated December 7, 2020 and was filed by Senior Assistant City Prosecutor John Allen Farinas before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 24 on January 8, 2021. Arraignment was set on February 4.

The state prosecutor said Ressa, as editor, and Talabong, as writer, conspired to publish on January 23, 2020 an article titled “Thesis for sale: Benilde students say they paid P20,000 to pass,” with the “malicious intent” of damaging the reputation of Pineda.

The article was based on an October 2019 complaint filed by AK Paras who learned from at least two fellow students that their thesis groups paid Pineda to pass the program.

The college confirmed that it investigated the case. Rappler sought Pineda’s statement but did not receive a reply, the article said.

Ressa and Talabong’s counsel Theodore Te said the two each posted bail of P30,000.

Te expressed concern that cyber libel has become the first option for those who disagree with a news report.

“That is the problem with libel and cyber libel laws which make these acts criminal — a private dispute becomes a public offense where the government gets involved. As a result, the implications on freedom of expression and of the press are significant,” said Te.

In separate statements, Rappler and Talabong reiterated the call to stop attacks against journalists.

“We reiterate the multi-sectoral call to decriminalize libel and to stop these relentless attacks against journalists who, despite obstacles thrown their way, continue to shine the light on the pandemic and other forms of everyday terror,” Rappler said.

“I spent weeks reporting and weeks more doing everything to ensure that the story is fair. This case further proves that decriminalizing libel is imperative. No journalist should be intimidated for doing their job,” Talabong said.