Ressa posts P60,000 bail in tax evasion case
(Eagle News)–A Pasig court has ordered the arrest of Rappler’s Maria Ressa for tax evasion.
Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 265 Judge Danilo Buemio issued the arrest order on Nov. 28, after Ressa was charged for violation of Section 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.
The judge set the bail for Ressa’s temporary liberty at P60,000, which she has already posted.
Last week, the Department of Justice filed tax evasion cases against Rappler Holdings Corp. before the Court of Tax Appeals and the Pasig RTC.
RHC is the holding company of Rappler Inc., owner of news website Rappler.
In a statement released on Monday afternoon, Ressa noted what she said were “politically-motivated charges.”
“This is a clear case of harassment,” she said.
In January, the Securities and Exchange Commission revoked the incorporation certificates of Rappler and RHC after it found they issued Philippine Depository Receipts to foreign entities North Base Media and Omidyar through NBM Rappler.
In ruling for the revocation, the SEC cited the provision on foreign equity restriction enshrined in the Philippine Constitution.
The provision prohibits foreign entities from having any form of ownership or control of Philippine mass media.
“The foreign restriction is very clear. Anything less than one hundred percent (100%) Filipino control is a violation. Conversely, anything more than exactly zero percent (0%) foreign control is a violation,” the SEC decision read.
