Ruling proof Rappler case not a press freedom issue – Palace
A decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) to affirm a ruling of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoking online media site Rappler’s license to operate proves there is no issue on press freedom involved in the case, Malacañang said on Friday.
On Thursday, the CA in a 72- page decision ruled that Rappler is not fully Filipino- owned and has violated the Constitution.
“The decision supports the Palace stance that this case does not involve press freedom, but the regulatory powers of the SEC,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement.
Roque voiced confidence that the SEC would be able to resolve the case “with the same competence and objectivity as before.”
According to its website, the SEC has jurisdiction and supervision over all corporations, partnerships or associations that are the grantees of primary franchises and/or a license or permit issued by the government.
The SEC revoked Rappler’s certificate of incorporation on January 15 for allegedly violating the Philippine Constitution and statutory foreign- equity restrictions in mass media.
A month and five days later, Rappler’s Malacañang reporter Pia Ranada-Robles was not allowed to enter the Palace’ premises by an officer of the Presidential Security Group (PSG), citing orders from “higher-ups.”
The order came a day after Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go accused both Rappler and the Philippine Daily Inquirer as purveyors of fake news and “irresponsible reporters” after reporting that Go intervened in the P15.7-billion Philippine Navy frigate project.
After coordinating with the media relations office of Malacañang, RanadaRobles was eventually allowed to enter the Palace.
Shortly after, however, she was banned not only from entering Malacanang but also from attending and covering presidential events.
President Rodrigo Duterte himself said a few days later that Ranada-Robles was barred because “he was pissed off” by Rappler and that he “felt betrayed.”
Rappler lawyer Francis Lim said in a statement posted in Rappler on Friday that the online news site will “not take the decision sitting down” and that they will “take all legal actions necessary to have the issue finally resolved by the Supreme Court.”
“I’m glad that the Court of Appeals has ordered the SEC to conduct further proceedings to determine the legal effect of the donation of the PDRs to the Filipino staff of Rappler. What this means is that the SEC decision cannot be enforced or implemented until the issue is finally decided. Meanwhile, it’s business as usual for Rappler,” Lim added.