Palace Reacts to Tax Evasion Charges Against Rappler Boss Maria Ressa
RAPPLER – The Malacañang Palace reacted to the tax evasion charges against Rappler’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maria Ressa.
Recently, a Pasig Court released an arrest warrant against Maria Ressa, the CEO and executive editor of the online news website Rappler.
Ressa is faced with charges over her alleged tax evasion. She allegedly violated Section 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC).
The arrest warrant against Maria Ressa released by the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 265 was signed by Judge Danilo A. Buemio. The Rappler CEO was allowed to post a bail.
The bail set for Maria Ressa was fixed at Php 60,000.00. The Rappler CEO voluntarily surrendered to the court and posted bail.
As for Ressa, the charges against her are “politically-motivated”.
The charges and arrest warrant against Maria Ressa gained different reactions from the people. The Malacañang Palace has also given its side on the issue involving the Rappler CEO.
Based on a report on Inquirer, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo stressed that the Executive branch will never interfere with the function of the judiciary.
“How can they be prosecuted? It’s a question of tax evasion, you violate tax laws then you will be prosecuted,” the Presidental Spokesperson expressed.
Panelo added that if there is a justifiable reason for doing so or an evidence to prove that it is not true, one will be acquitted.
“If the judiciary finds probable cause for an information filed, then we have to respect the law no matter what,” he said.
Based on the report, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo expressed that Maria Ressa is “entitled to the presumption of innocence”. According to him, the Rappler CEO may avail legal remedies including the posting of bail.
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