MANILA, Philippines — Philippine media has never been more under threat as it is now since 1986.

This, according to Senator Nancy Binay, who joined other sectors in denouncing the arrest of Rappler chief executive Maria Ressa.

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“It is saddening to see how journalists around the world are being restricted, intimidated, silenced, attacked, and constantly threatened even in countries where there is seemingly a democratic space,” Binay said in a statement on Thursday.

The “chilling effect” of criminalizing journalism, she said, should never be helplessly accepted as a “convenient necessity to silence those who speak against the status quo.”

“We have fought hard to regain press freedom, and Philippine media has never been more under threat as it is now since 1986,” Binay said.

“Freedom of the press is one of the hallmarks of democracy–and crippling the messenger does not make a thousand messengers broken,” she added.

Ressa was arrested by National Bureau of Investigation agents Wednesday in connection with an article titled “CJ using SUVs of controversial businessman” published by Rappler in May 2012.

READ: Court orders arrest of Rappler CEO Maria Ressa

The CJ being referred to in the article was the late Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona while the businessman was Wilfredo Keng.

It was Keng, who filed the cyber libel case against Ressa.

READ: DOJ allows filing of cyberlibel case vs Rappler’s Ressa, reporter

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After spending a night in the NBI office, Ressa posted bail on Thursday for her temporary liberty. /je

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