Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque congratulated Rappler founder and chief executive officer Maria Ressa on Monday, October 11, for winning the Nobel Peace Prize Award.
"It’s a victory for a Filipina and we’re very happy for that kasi wala namang utak talangka dito sa Malacañang," Roque said during a virtual press briefing.
However, the Malacanang official stressed that Ressa, a known critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, still needs to clear her name after she has been found guilty for cyber libel by a court in Manila in 2020.
Ressa and Rappler also face charges for libel, tax evasion, and for violating a ban on foreign media ownership in the Philippines.
"But of course, it is true that there are individuals who feel that Maria Ressa still has to clear her name before our courts as in fact she’s convicted felon for libel, cyber libel in the Philippines and she faces other cases in the Philippines," Roque said.
Roque also said that the Palace does not consider the award as 'a slap on the government' and said that the Duterte Administration respects the decision 'made by private individuals in Norway'.
"But as I said, criminal liability of Maria Ressa remains pending in our courts and we leave it to our courts to decide on her fate. There is no slap there because as everyone knows, no one has ever been censored in the Philippines," the Palace spokesperson insisted.
Ressa made history by becoming the first Filipino to receive the Nobel Prize award in history, and also the first female recipient of the honor this year.
