Rappler CEO Maria Ressa. (ABS/CBN)
Philippines
In a move reminiscent of Ferdinand Marcos’ muzzling of the press, President Rodrigo Duterte, through the Securities and Echange Commission (SEC) today revoked the registration of Rappler, a fierce critic. The move happened just as the movie The Post was released to international audiences. The movie is about The Wasington Post’s epic btle against the U.S. government’s attempt to muzzle the press to prevent them from publishing the Pentagon Papers about the Vietnam War.
MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – In a blow to press freedom in the Philippines, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoked the registration of news organization Rappler allegedly for violating the Constitution and the Anti-Dummy Law.
The SEC said Rappler violated constitutional restrictions on ownership and control of mass media entities because of funds coming from Omidyar Network, a fund created by eBay founder and entrepreneur Pierre Omidyar.
SEC voided the Omidyar Philippine Depositary Receipt (PDR) and revoked Rappler’s Certificate of Incorporation.
A PDR is a financial instrument that does not give the owner voting rights in the board or a say in the management or day-to-day operations of the company. Several large media companies have PDRs.
The SEC itself accepted the Omidyar-related documents submitted by Rappler in 2015.
In a statement addressed to its readers and viewers on Monday, Rappler said: “The SEC’s kill order revoking Rappler’s license to operate is the first of its kind in history – both for the Commission and for Philippine media.”
“What this means for you, and for us, is that the Commission is ordering us to close shop, to cease telling you stories, to stop speaking truth to power, and to let go of everything that we have built – and created – with you since 2012.” (READ Rappler’s statement: Stand with Rappler, defend press freedom)
Rappler, however, will continue to operate as it files the necessary motions for reconsideration with the courts. It will continue to defend and uphold the freedom of the press, which is guaranteed by the Constitution.
The government has long targeted Rappler. The SEC investigation was ordered by the Office of the Solicitor General, which wrote the agency on December 14, 2016, to investigate Rappler over its PDRs.
The SEC created a “Special Panel” on July 8, 2017, to conduct a “formal, in-depth examination of Rappler Inc and its parent, Rappler Holdings Corporation, as to possible violations of nationality restrictions on ownership and/or control of Mass Media entities.”
A few weeks later, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte himself threatened to investigate the ownership of Rappler.
Rappler has long debunked the allegation. (READ: Debunking lies about Rappler)
“Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) do not indicate ownership. This means our foreign investors, Omidyar Network and North Base Media, do not own Rappler. They invest, but they don’t own. Rappler remains 100% Filipino-owned,” Rappler said in a statement after Duterte’s SONA.
The SEC decision against Rappler also comes after months of being attacked by pro-administration bloggers over its ownership, among other issues.
The SEC endorsed the decision to the Department of Justice “for appropriate action.”
Read the SEC decision here:
– Rappler.com
