On Monday, the Philippine Government revoked the operating licence of news website Rappler, officials said. The decision is set to take effect within the next 15 days.
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Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler, said the ruling was "very political nature" of the decision, adding that “due process” was not followed resulting in Rappler not being given a chance to respond to the findings of the investigation.
“This is the last part of the kind of harassment journalists have had in the last year or so,” she said. “What we will do is prepare to fight. We stand tall, we stand firm. This is a moment that we will say that we stand for press freedom,” the former CNN foreign correspondent said.
This decision didn’t follow due process. Fast-tracked, it is political in nature. The severe penalties remind you of the context in PH today. It cannot be seen in a vacuum. https://t.co/EDPnNS9whs
— Maria Ressa (@mariaressa) January 16, 2018
Rappler's Acting Managing Editor Chay Hofilena added that the news agency will file a court appeal against the Securities and Exchange Commission ruling.
“This is pure and simple harassment, the seeming coup de grace to the relentless and malicious attacks against us since 2016,” Rappler's website said.
“We will continue bringing you the news, holding the powerful to account for their actions and decisions, calling attention to government lapses that further disempower the disadvantaged,” it said.
Critics of the government say the decision served a major blow to press freedom, citing the news organizations' constant criticism of President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs.
Amnesty International also denounced the ruling, calling it “an alarming attempt to silence independent journalism.”
“This is a politically motivated decision, pure and simple, and just the latest attempt to go after anyone who dares to criticise the government,” said Amnesty’s regional director for south-east Asia and the Pacific, James Gomez, said.
SEC revokes Rappler's registration | via @rapplerdotcom https://t.co/QongE7UoVL
— Maria Ressa (@mariaressa) January 15, 2018
But, a spokesman for Duterte rejected the allegation, stating that Rappler and Rappler Holdings Corp. had violated a provision in the country’s constitution restricting media ownership to Filipinos.
“The issue at hand is the compliance of 100% Filipino ownership and management of mass media. It is not about infringement on the freedom of the press,” the spokesman, Harry Roque, said in a statement.
The government accused Rappler Holdings of issuing Philippine depositary receipts for shares to foreign companies.
“[They are] existing for no other purpose than to effect a deceptive scheme to circumvent the constitution,” the Securities and Exchange Commission said in a Jan 11 ruling to revoke Rappler’s certificates of incorporation. The SEC enforces securities and investment laws as well as maintains company registry.
“No one is above the law. Rappler has to comply,” Roque added.
Last year, in an address to Congress, Duterte accused Rappler of having “American ownership”. Rappler was established in 2012.