Philippine authorities said Wednesday they had filed more criminal charges against Maria Ressa, a veteran reporter and prominent critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, six weeks after detaining her overnight.
Ressa is the chief executive and editor of online news site Rappler, which has reported extensively on Duterte’s deadly anti-drugs crackdown that has claimed thousands of lives and which rights groups say may be a crime against humanity.
Ressa has accused Duterte of using prosecutions against her, including ongoing cases of alleged tax evasion and libel, to silence critics and intimidate the press.
Ressa insists the site is not anti-Duterte, saying it is just doing its job to hold the government to account.
The journalist, together with six other current and former Rappler board members and editors, has now been accused of securities fraud.
Rappler said Ressa is abroad. However the six others charged posted bail on the new charges on Wednesday.
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