Quezon City (Manila) [Philippines], January 18: The court in Quezon City , Manila area, acquitted Ms. Ressa on all four charges of tax evasion, according to AFP news agency.
Journalist Ressa still faces three other criminal charges, including online defamation, which carries a sentence of nearly seven years in prison.
"Today, the truth wins," Ms. Ressa told journalists gathered outside the courthouse in Manila .
She emphasized that the tax evasion allegations against herself and the online newspaper Rappler were politically motivated.
Ms. Ressa was awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to protect freedom of expression in the Philippines. She founded Rappler in 2012 and the online newspaper is widely known for its coverage of the war on drugs condemned under President Duterte.
Asked what the court's decision meant, Ms. Ressa said it was "hope".
Despite the latest ruling, the future of the online newspaper Rappler remains uncertain.
The newspaper continued to fight to overturn the decision of the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (PSEC), which withdrew Rappler 's license from 2018 because it violated foreign ownership regulations.
PSEC accused Rappler 's parent company of intentionally creating a cover to cover up an investment from a foreign source. Mass media companies in the Philippines are prohibited from having foreign owners.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper