Maria Ressa, a Philippine Free-Press Fighter

In June a judge ruled on the charge, which can be initiated when a party who believes he’s been defamed requests a prosecution. The ask had come from businessman Wilfredo Keng, who said Rappler defamed him when the online news site cited a report about his alleged links to drug smuggling in a story.

Ressa is appealing the verdict, which critics of President Rodrigo Duterte say is an example of political persecution. He’s denied any role in the case, with his spokesman calling it the result of “bad journalism” and “bad lawyering.”