Rappler President Maria Ressa pleaded not guilty to her four cases of tax deficiencies amounting to P70 million in connection with the sale of Philippine Depositary Receipts in violation of the National Internal Revenue Code.

• CTA to proceed with P70-million tax deficiency cases vs Ressa, Rappler

Ressa was smiling when she made the not guilty plea before the 1st Division of the Court of Tax Appeals headed by Presiding Justice Roman Del Rosario.

During the pre-trial, both the prosecution and the defense made stipulations on the witnesses and documents to be presented during the trial.

The first day of trial is on May 15 with the presentation of the first prosecution witnesses, identified as Jocelyn Bautista.

Ressa, who is off to Italy and New York tonight for speaking engagements, maintained in an interview after the arraignment that the cases filed against her were all politically motivated.

“I’m hoping for justice,” she said.