MANILA, Philippines — The arrest of Rappler’s chief executive Maria Ressa for cyberlibel proves President Rodrigo Duterte’s “despotic regime,” opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said Thursday.

“I strongly condemn Duterte’s latest effort to persecute independent journalist, Maria Ressa. This move unmasks his despotic regime and his fear of accountability,” Trillanes said in a statement.

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Rappler and Ressa have been critical of the Duterte administration and its controversial policies.

With Ressa’s arrest, the senator, who is a staunch critic of Duterte, urged the public to stand for press freedom.

READ: LOOK: The SUV that launched the libel suit against Rappler

“We must unite and stand for press freedom in these trying times, as Duterte systematically destroys our democracy,” he said.

Ressa was arrested on Wednesday by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

READ: Rappler’s Maria Ressa arrested for cyberlibel

The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier approved the filing of cyberlibel against Ressa in relation to a complaint filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng.

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

The case stemmed from a Rappler article titled “CJ using SUVs of controversial businessman” published in 2012. The “CJ” being referred in the article was the late Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was under an impeachment trial at that time.

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Malacañang said the arrest of Ressa was “absolutely unrelated” to freedom of expression but with her “probable violation of the country’s laws. /cbb

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