On Tuesday, Maria Ressa, the Nobel laureate from the Philippines, along with her news outlet Rappler, secured a significant legal victory when they were acquitted of tax fraud charges by a court. This outcome not only marks a triumph for Ms Ressa but also represents a crucial win for press freedom within the country.

Ms Ressa, 59, was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 alongside a Russian journalist. She founded Rappler, a news organisation that she currently serves as its head. Her organisation gained prominence for its unyielding investigative reporting on former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial war on drugs, which drew international attention.

After the verdict was delivered, the laureate expressed her thoughts to reporters. She emphasised that her acquittal sent a positive signal to the business community, as the tax charges against her were deeply intertwined with the principles of the rule of law.

“The acquittal now strengthens our resolve to continue with the justice system, to submit ourselves to the court despite the political harassment, despite the attack on press freedom.” She added, “It shows that the court system works. We hope to see the remaining charges dismissed.”

This acquittal was anticipated, as the journalist had previously been cleared of similar tax charges just nine months earlier. These charges stemmed from a 2018 government indictment, accusing Ms Ressa and Rappler of evading tax payments by not declaring proceeds from a 2015 sale of depositary receipts to foreign investors.

Currently out on bail, Ms Ressa had previously been convicted in 2020 for cyber libel in one of the numerous cases filed against her website by government entities. She consistently asserted that these cases were politically motivated.

Notably, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has been in office for over a year, stated that he would not interfere in the ongoing legal proceedings against Rappler. Rappler continues its operations without hindrance while awaiting an appeal decision regarding a closure order issued by the country’s market regulators.

Francis Lim, one of Ms Ressa’s legal representatives, expressed optimism that this latest acquittal could pave the way for the dismissal of the remaining cases, including the closure order.

The World Press Freedom Index ranks the Philippines at 132 out of 180 countries. Despite government-directed attacks and constant harassment against critical journalists, the country’s media is described as “extremely vibrant.”