The Philippines’ constitution expressly protects freedom of the press, earning it the distinction of having the freest press in the region. And yet while freedom of speech may be protected by law, media practitioners and human rights activists have long decried the culture of impunity endangering human rights and the weaponization of laws against journalists, particularly under the current administration. We discuss threats against the free press in the Philippines, in light of the cyber-libel convictions of well-known journalist Maria Ressa.