Why was Maria Ressa initially convicted of cyber libel in 2020?

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Maria Ressa Was Convicted of Cyber Libel Due to an Article Published by Rappler in 2012

Maria Ressa was initially convicted of cyber libel in June 2020 because a 2012 online article published by Rappler, the news site she heads, linked a businessman to illegal activities without providing him an opportunity to respond. The appeals court upheld this conviction on October 10, adding eight months to her sentence, though she remains free pending further appeals.
Article Alleged Businessman's Involvement in Illegal Activities

The cyber libel case stemmed from a 2012 article published by Rappler that implicated a businessman in illegal activities. The court found that Rappler, as the publisher of the article, failed to adhere to journalistic standards by not allowing the businessman to present his side of the story before publication.
Businessman Was Not Given a Chance to Refute Allegations

A key factor in the court's ruling was the finding that the businessman had not been given a fair opportunity to refute the allegations made against him in the Rappler article. Despite him contacting Rappler to present his perspective, the article was published without his response being included.
Conviction Affirmed by Appeals Court

The initial conviction by a lower court in June 2020 was affirmed by the appeals court on October 10. This decision not only upheld the conviction but also extended Maria Ressa's jail sentence by an additional eight months, a ruling her lawyer described as disappointing and indicative of the evidence being ignored.

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Why was Maria Ressa initially convicted of cyber libel in 2020?

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