Following the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) decision to revoke news website Rappler’s license to operate, a group of journalists working in the Philippines has planned a rally for press freedom scheduled for tonight in Quezon City.
The demonstration was announced yesterday by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines on Facebook.
“The threatened closure of Rappler has proven that Rodrigo Duterte and his minions will stop at nothing to shut down critical voices even as they rush to amend the Constitution to produce an abomination that will not only perpetuate themselves in power but emasculate our rights and liberties,” the post says.
https://www.facebook.com/229482870373/photos/a.10151325930050374.815044.229482870373/10159925704330374/?type=3&theater
On Monday, the SEC revoked Rappler’s registrations for allegedly being owned by foreign entities, a violation of the Philippine Constitution that states all media outlets must be 100 percent Filipino owned.
Rappler has denied this and explained that their two foreign investors have Philippine Depository Receipts that allow them to invest in the company. They’ve also clarified that these investors have no control over editorial content.
Yesterday, Rappler’s CEO Maria Ressa and a former reporter were subpoenaed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for cybercrime allegations.
Many find that the SEC’s decision and the NBI investigation on Rappler reporters show that the government is curtailing press freedom because Rappler and other news outlets have allegedly been too critical of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
The Palace, however, has said that the license revocation had nothing to do with press freedom.
To prove this, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Wednesday that Ressa and other Rappler reporters can cover the news as bloggers should the SEC’s decision be finalized.
Still, Duterte did not hesitate to call Rappler out for allegedly publishing fake news. On Tuesday, he criticized the news outlet while taking questions from reporters.
“You can stop your suspicious mind from roaming somewhere else. But since you are a fake news outlet and I am not surprised your articles are also fake, we can debate. Now tell me where are our lies and tell me where are yours,” Duterte said to Rappler reporter Pia Ranada.
Rappler is still currently operational. Ressa said that she is ready to fight and take the ruling up to the Supreme Court.
NUJP is inviting those who will join their rally tonight to wear a black shirt or black armband. It’ll be held at 6pm at the Boys Scout Circle in Timog Ave., Quezon City.
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