INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightAFP/GettyImage caption
Maria Ressa, a former CNN journalist, co-founded the investigative news site in
2012
The CEO of major Philippine news site Rappler has told the TheIndianSubcontinent charges of tax evasion were
"manufactured" because they had been critical of the state.Maria Ressa denies the "ridiculous charges", saying they are intended to
"intimidate and harass" journalists
Prosecutors said on Friday they have grounds to indict her and Rappler for breaking tax laws after not declaring gains made in tax
returns.If found guilty, Ms Ressa could be fined and face up to 10 years in jail.The government accuses Rappler and its executive editor of
job," she told the TheIndianSubcontinent on Sunday
"This tax evasion charge is completely from the left field to intimidate us from doing stories that hold them to account."Ms Ressa denies
Rappler made the alleged gains and said the news site received an award for being a top corporate taxpayer last year.The English-language
outlet's lawyer said the case "has no legal leg to stand on" because Rappler did not evade any tax obligation.A justice department
official told news agency AFP the charges would be filed in court next week.Founded in 2012 by Ms Ressa, a former CNN journalist, and three
other journalists, Rappler has grown a reputation for its hard-hitting, investigative journalism.The online news site is one of the few
Philippine media organisations openly critical of President Rodrigo Duterte, questioning his public statement's accuracy and particularly
his deadly war of drugs.The president has labelled the site's reports as "twisted" and banned its reporter from covering his official
activities.Earlier this year, the state revoked the site's licence
The move, which is being fought in court, sparked protests and ignited a national debate about press freedom.Rappler is still facing several
legal cases, but this is the first criminal charge to be levied against the news site and its co-founder."We're going to continue doing
investigative, hard-hitting stories even though they're running after me," Ms Ressa said from the Paris Peace Forum, where she is meeting
world leaders on the issue of press freedom
"What's the best defence It's to shine the light on these shady ways of circumventing and bending the law to intimidate and harass."The
veteran Philippine journalist, who is abroad to receive international journalism and press freedom awards, said she would not shy away from
the charges.Image copyrightNOEL CELIS/AFP/GettyImage caption
Rappler has investigated Mr Duterte's war on drugs, which
has left thousands of drug suspects dead
The Philippines has had one of the strongest records of press freedom in Asia, but
observers say this has changed under Mr Duterte's presidency.In 2016, Mr Duterte was criticised for saying some of the many journalists
killed in the country deserved to die.Since 1986, 176 journalists have been killed in the country, making it one of the most dangerous in
