Philippine journalist Maria Ressa arrested again for owning media outfit

Prominent Philippine journalist and founder of news site Rappler Maria Ressa, has been arrested at a Manila airport, for allegedly violating laws excluding foreign ownership of media.

It was gathered that Ms Ressa was arrested moments after stepping off a plane on her return from San Francisco on Thursday.

She was also arrested last month over an alleged internet libel case after eleven legal cases had been filed against her since January 2018.

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The Philippine journalist who was named Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2018, spoke to reporters as she was arrested.

“Obviously this is yet another abuse of my rights. I am being treated like a criminal when my only crime is to be an independent journalist,” she said.

The government accuses Ms Ressa, who has both Philippine and American nationality, of having violated foreign ownership rules and committed securities fraud.

According to Philippine law, media organisations must be completely Filipino-owned.

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