‘President Duterte, Mark Zuckerberg’s sniper’
This is a nickname for Filipino journalist Maria Ressa.
“Democracy is dying with a thousand scars before our eyes. With too many small wounds, it will weaken and finally die.”
Not only has she been resisting her country’s dictatorship, but also raising her voice for the ethical role of big tech companies like Facebook. Ressa is a global citizen who has dedicated herself to building a society where truth circulates without impedance.
Born in 1963 in Manila, Philippines, Ressa moved to the United States with her parents in the 1970s to see out her school days, then returned to her homeland in 1986.
Returning as a journalist, she entered her homeland under the Marcos regime, at a time when terrorism was rampant.
She served as CNN’s bureau chief in Manila in the 1990s, followed by Jakarta bureau chief, as investigative journalist in Asia, tracking emerging terrorist groups in Southeast Asia.
Indonesian riots in 1998
East Timor crisis in 1999
Philippine consulate bombing of Jakarta in 2000
Ressa uncovers the truth about a series of terrorist attacks in Southeast Asia.
“Islamic militant group al-Qaeda was behind the terrorist attacks!“
Founding Rappler
More importantly, they incited Southeast Asian Muslims through fake news on social media such as Facebook. Ressa co-founded Rappler, an online investigative media outlet, in 2012, and set out on a new path.
“In the new age of information technology, pungent lies are circulating faster than boring truths. “
Rappler’s goal is to track fake news online and spread the truth about terrorism and dictatorship.
Ressa and Raffler have gone down the path of resistance journalism, intensively criticizing Rodrigo Duterte after he was elected as President of the Philippines in 2016.
He declared a ‘war on drugs’ immediately after his election as president and did not hesitate to carry out extrajudicial executions in which suspects were killed without trial.
In 2016 alone, more than 4,000 people died innocently.
As Rappler continued its lonely struggle against the powerful regime, she issued a press release commemorating the victims.
The secret of the regime was brought to light
26 bogus accounts
One of them operated by a famous influencer had 3 million followers, but it was a window through which fabricated stories justifying the regime were disseminated.
Ressa faulted big tech companies like Facebook.
“Social media is now becoming weaponized. Online violence leads to real-world violence. The Philippines is now headed down that path.”
The government reacted in outrage at the continuing series of investigative reports of Rappler.
Ressa become a target of the government.
She was charged with fraud, tax evasion and bribery, and arrested in February 2019 on cyber defamation charges. Ten times she was arrested and then released on bail. And if convicted, her prison term will be 68 years.
“Don’t be afraid: If you do not exercise your rights, you lose them.”
Despite the threat of possibly spending the rest of her life in prison, Ressa stood up and defended her freedom of speech.
The First Laureate
A traitor as a Filipino citizen
Journalist Cozying Up to Big Tech Entrepreneurs
But one agency upholds her hand.
The Nobel Peace Prize Committee announces her as the co-laureate in 2021.
The Philippines’ first Nobel Laureate!
First journalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 86 years
“For her efforts to defend freedom of expression, a prerequisite for democracy and lasting peace!”
The numerous titles conferred on Ressa gave her strength, and the international community repaid the value of her long struggle.
As an investigative journalist, Ressa has emerged as a fearless defender of freedom of expression, exposing the abuses, use of violence and growing authoritarianism of President Rodrigo Duterte's regime. She and her Rappler documented how social media is used to spread fake news, harass opponents, and manipulate public discourse.
(on why she won the Nobel Peace Prize)
October 2022: Maria Ressa is still appealing. The democratic process is time consuming and expensive. But the truth Ressa wants to tell the public is worth going through all that process.
