Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has a career tip for Rappler reporters.
Should the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) remove the news website’s license to operate, they can instead cover the news as bloggers, he said during a news conference in La Union yesterday.
And yes, he was serious.
“They can still become bloggers. Maria Ressa can continue to blog. Pia Ranada can continue to blog. But they may need to get accreditation as bloggers because the cannot continue conducting their business as Rappler,” he said in mixed Filipino and English about Rappler’s CEO Ressa and Palace reporter Ranada.
Roque said this as a reply to people who say that the SEC’s decision to revoke Rappler’s registration on Monday is a violation of press freedom.
But how exactly does become an accredited blogger? For that, they might have to go to Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson who is in charge of the administration’s social media presence.
In November, Uson asked Communications Secretary Martin Andanar to reclassify Rappler as a social media entity because it does not have a print or broadcast counterpart.
Uson, who is a blogger herself, is followed by more than 5 million people on Facebook and was one of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s staunchest supporters while campaigning. Her influence has proven to be problematic, though, because she has been caught sharing inaccurate information on her Facebook page multiple times.
Uson has also been critical of what she calls “mainstream media” like Rappler for allegedly spreading “fake news.” (Aka, news she doesn’t agree with or offends her.)
After the SEC announced its decision on Monday, Uson went live on Facebook to share how pleased she was.
“Remember this day, Jan. 15, a most beautiful day. You can still feel the Christmas spirit; only now do I feel the true meaning of Christmas,” she said.
Rappler is news website founded by veteran journalists who have worked for local and international media outlets. Ressa, for instance, was Manila bureau chief and Jakarta bureau chief for CNN. Since the SEC’s ruling has not yet been finalized, the news website is still continuing operations.
