By Gabriela Baron
Veteran journalist Maria Ressa was acquitted on Wednesday, Jan. 18, of tax evasion charges.
The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) cleared Ressa and Rappler Holdings Corporation (RHC) of four charges of tax evasion that was filed in 2018.
The case was filed by the Department of Justice over the alleged failure of Ressa and Rappler to declare a P162.41-million profit from the issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts in 2015.
Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros hailed the acquittal of Ressa and Rappler Holdings Co. by the Court of Tax Appeals.
“I welcome and commend the decision of the Court of Tax Appeals First Division acquitting Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and Rappler Holdings Corp. of tax evasion charges,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
Hontiveros said the dismissal of the cases “is an important win for free and defiant journalism” in the Philippines. -ag
