It was filed before the Manila Regional Trial Court branch 24 on December 7 and is the third cyberlibel case Ressa is facing, with an appeal ongoing for a court conviction last year. The story, Pineda said, had "false, malicious, derogatory and highly libelous imputation" that he is a "corrupt professor or chairperson by passing thesis students for money." "It is disturbing because it seems like cyberlibel is now the first option in case of disagreement on reporting," said Te, a former Supreme Court spokesman. "Perhaps Congress should consider whether it is high time to decriminalize libel and cyberlibel." Journalists in the country have long called to decriminalize libel, along with its inclusion in the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

Source: Philippine Star January 14, 2021 12:53 UTC