CONVICTED

Maria Ressa, the founder of an award-winning Philippinesbased news site and a critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, was found guilty of cyber libel on Monday, the latest blow to the country's press freedom. Ressa, the editor and CEO of the online news site Rappler, and former researcher-writer Rey Santos Jr. were convicted guilty of slandering a businessman by a Manila court. The lawsuit featured a May 2012 article that looked into a former chief justice's ties to several businesses, notably Wilfredo Keng. According to the account, Keng was linked to unlawful conduct based on an intelligence assessment from an undisclosed agency. Keng denied any misconduct.

"The verdict against Maria Ressa highlights the ability of the Philippines' abusive leader to manipulate the laws to go after critical, well-respected media voices whatever the ultimate cost to the country," says Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The Rappler case will have repercussions not only in the Philippines but in many other nations that have long regarded the country as a robust environment for media freedom."

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