Maria Ressa posts bail

ABS-CBN News

Posted at Mar 29 2019 12:12 PM | Updated as of Mar 29 2019 04:51 PM

MANILA - Journalist Maria Ressa was released around noon Friday hours after her arrest over alleged violations of the Anti-Dummy Law. 

The Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 265 ordered Ressa's release after posting a P90,000 bail. 

Ressa was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport past 6 a.m. Friday two days after she and 6 other Rappler executives were indicted for alleged violations of the Anti-Dummy Law. 

She had described her arrest, her second in over a month, as "harassment."

Pasig City prosecutors had indicted Ressa and Rappler executives Manuel Ayala, Nico Jose Nolledo, Glenda Gloria, James Bitangca, Felicia Atienza, and James Velasquez for alleged violation of the anti-dummy law. 

They were accused of violating the constitutional requirement for mass media to be 100-percent Filipino owned. Rappler's incorporation certificate was revoked in January 2018 because it allowed foreign-owned Omidyar Network to hold Philippine Depositary receipts (PDRs).

The Philippines, under the anti-dummy law, prohibits foreigners from intervening in the management, operation, administration, or control of any nationalized activity.

Ressa was arrested in Rappler's headquarters in Pasig City last month over cyberlibel charges. She was released after overnight detention upon posting bail. 

More details to follow.