Political analysts slam SG Berberabe for asking SC to overturn cyber libel conviction of Ma. Ressa

****

March 26, 2026

4–6 minutes

Respected political analysts Alex Magno and Roberto Tiglao described the action taken by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) headed by Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe over the weekend as not so courteous to the Supreme Court (SC).

She filed a Manifestation with Recommendation for Acquittal” before SC to acquit Rappler CEO Maria Ressa.

But the political analysts branded the SOLGEN, as so generous, and not so courteous to the country’s justices for asking them to overturn the 2020 conviction of Ressa about the cyber libel suit filed against her by a businessman in 2019 before the conviction by the Regional Trial Court in Manila in 2020.

And that RTC decision was affirmed unanimously by the Court of Appeals in July 2022.

“She is not being very polite here,” Magno, a longtime political science faculty member of the University of the Philippines (UP), said through his recent column in a very respected news broadsheet entitled “discourteous” last March 21.

Ressa was found guilty of the crime of cyber libel, and she was slapped with eight months and 20 days to six years imprisonment penalty plus a P400,000 pay for the complainant before she and accomplice Reynaldo Santos Jr. asked the SC in November 2022 to reverse the decision of the courts.

He also insisted that Berberabe as the Solicitor General should be representing the government and not her friends, adding that an obvious alleged conflict of interest may appear to her action for allegedly defending a friend’s interest because she once lawyered the defendant.

“She [Berberabe] is expected to represent government, not personal friends, before the courts,” Magno also added in his column.

Tiglao claimed that Berberabe was ignorant or pretended to be ignorant of the law citing: “No doctrine or principle of law laid down by the court in a decision rendered en banc or in division maybe modified or reversed except by the court sitting en banc.”

“SolGen Berberabe shocked the legal community when she asked the court to acquit Ressa, claiming the one-year prescription for the crime had lapsed, pointing to an October 2023 decision by the Supreme Court,” Tiglao said in his column published in a respected news broadsheet last March 23, 2026 entitled “To save Ressa, SolGen ignores Constitution, disrespects SC.”

“She conveniently ignored an earlier 2018 court ruling in Tolentino v. People (GR 24031, Aug. 6, 2018) that the prescription period is 15 years.”

Political observers, meanwhile, agreed with the sentiment of Magno and Tiglao, saying the OSG can do a lot of things in the middle of crisis to help the country rather than focusing on asking the SC to acquit Ressa.

“There are so many things that a Solicitor General can do to help our people amid the ongoing world crisis because of the war in the Middle East. Remember she is a public official, and her duty is to defend the interest of the government and its employees, not just private individuals,” they said.

#EdjunMariposque

#CalambaCityUpdates

#NewsStringerTV

#NSTV

#CCU

🏥 PANHERO ANG TAMANG LANDAS DRUG REHABILITATION AND TREATMENT CENTER 🏥
DOH Accredited: 4A-003-2325-DR-2
📍 Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road, Brgy. Lumil, Silang, Cavite

At the Panhero Tamang Landas Rehabilitation Center, we are not just a rehabilitation center. In addition to prioritizing improvement and recovery, we also emphasize the value of education. We are now offering ALS and TESDA short courses for our patients to pursue, whether they are currently at the center or after completing their required stay for recovery.

TOP REHABILITATION FACILITY
🏆 Gintong Parangal
🏆 Philippines Golden Eagle Awards
🏆 Asian Top Choice Awards

HIGHLIGHTS
✅ Air-conditioned Facility
✅ Admin Room
✅ Comfortable Bedrooms with 4 patients maximum per roof
✅ Clinic and Pharmacy
✅ Family Room for Engagements and Life Coaching

SERVICES
✔️ Individual Counseling Sessions
✔️ Group Therapy Sessions
✔️ Medication Assisted Treatment
(Manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings)
✔️ Medical Exams and Laboratories (Complete package)
A. Physical Examination
B. X-ray, ECG, VDRL etc.
C. Drug Test
D. Drug Dependency Exam
✔️ Psychiatric and Psychological Evaluation
✔️ Family Therapy Sessions
✔️ Life Skills Training
✔️ Recreational Activities
✔️ Spiritual Program
✔️ Alternative Learning System (ALS) DEPED
✔️ Skills Training (TESDA Certificate)
✔️ Aftercare Program

24/7 CARE ASSISTANCE
🏥 Mental Care Treatment with Licensed/Accredited Professionals
🏥 Dental Care
🏥 Laboratory & Diagnostic Care
🏥 Pharmaceutical Care

AMENITIES & OTHER ACTIVITIES
🍿 Movie
👯 Zumba Session
🎹 Piano
🏋🏻‍♂️ Gym and Physical Fitness Equipment
🎱 Billiard and Pool table
🏓 Table Tennis Table
🏀 Basketball Court
🏐 Volleyball
🏸 Badminton
♟️ Board games
🎸 Drums and Guitars
🌿 Gardening

PAYMENTS
💳 Credit cards
💳 Grab Pay QR Code
💳 BDO Pay
💳 GCash
💳 Alipay
💳 Maya

CALL TO CONTACT
☎️ PLDT: (046) 889-8978
☎️ SMART: (0999) 990-9096
☎️ GLOBE: (0917) 539-8883

Start your recovery with us TODAY!

Changing Lives: Free Cleft Palate Services Offered by Pandemic Hero Foundation Inc.

As an organization that cares for the welfare of the people, we, Pandemic Hero Foundation Inc., are looking for people with cleft palate whom we will be helping with the help of our sponsored partners. This is a free service to offer for it is our heart that speaks from sharing our strong partnership with people and changing the way they live their lives – to what they deserve. This is not a business for personal gains, but more of reaching out and promoting a helping hand.

Pandemic Hero Foundation Inc.
Location: Purok Uno, Brgy. Lumil, Silang, Cavite.