UN experts slam Rappler closure order
Independent experts of the United Nations have expressed serious alarm over the decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to order the closure of online news outfit Rappler by revoking its certificate of incorporation.
Malacañang immediately challenged the UN human rights experts to show proof that the Duterte administration is suppressing press freedom following the SEC order to revoke Rappler’s license.
In a joint statement, the three special rapporteurs of the UN Human Rights Council – David Kaye (freedom of opinion and expression), Agnes Callamard (extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions) and Michel Forst (situation of human rights defenders) – called on the Philippine government to protect and promote independent media in the country.
“Rappler’s work rests on its own freedom to impart information, and more importantly its vast readership to have access to its public interest reporting,” the joint statement read.
“As a matter of human rights law, there is no basis to block it from operating. Rappler and other independent outlets need particular protection because of the essential role they play in ensuring robust public debate,” it added.
They claimed that the SEC decision is at odds with its past approach to foreign support of local or national media, noting that philanthropic contributions do not amount to foreign ownership.
“It has rejected the previously accepted format of contributions which media companies use to raise foreign funding,” the rapporteurs said.
“We are especially concerned that this move against Rappler comes at a time of rising rhetoric against independent voices in the country… We urge the government to return to its path of protection and promotion of independent media, especially those covering issues in the public interest,” they added.
The SEC revoked Rappler’s certificate of incorporation for supposedly violating the prohibition of foreign media ownership in the country when it allegedly allowed foreign contributors some control in the company.
The media organization denied the allegation and maintained that Rappler is owned by Filipinos. It is currently appealing the decision.
Rappler alleged that the SEC ruling is an attempt to curtail freedom of the press, citing attacks made against it by President Duterte, his allies and supporters.
The SEC probe was initiated by a letter from Solicitor General Jose Calida.
Black Friday protest
Journalists, students and other advocates of freedom of the press and expression yesterday held a protest at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City to denounce the closure order against Rappler.
Members of arts and media alliance Let’s Organize for Democracy and Integrity (LODI) led the Black Friday protest at UP, a follow-up to a similar activity held at Boy Scout Circle last Jan. 19.
The group urged the public to continue the fight to defend press freedom, citing the proposal to revise the provision on freedom of speech and of the press in the Constitution.
“We must not allow malignant forces to continue peddling lies to justify their embrace of tyranny and dictatorship,” the group’s statement read. “We must shatter their untruths and push back against harassment and intimidation.”
Other groups supporting the Black Friday protests include the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, Alter-Midya, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the Photojournalists Center of the Philippines.
Show proof
“We’ll give them credence if they can show which outfit has been shut down, who has been prohibited to report, when there was either censorship or prior restraint,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said.
Roque again backed the Jan. 11 decision of the SEC that Rappler violated the Constitution when it allowed foreign investors to become part of its board.
“That’s a decision of SEC which is manned by (former president Benigno) Aquino (III’s) appointees. It’s a moneymaking scheme which SEC said, violated the Constitution. Allegation that it’s about freedom is fake news,” he said.
He also branded the UN statement as “fake news” as he denounced Rappler’s greed for money.
And contrary to public concern that the administration is trampling on the freedom of the press and of expression, Roque said the government had not prevented any reporter from Rappler media coverage.
“It’s about avarice for money that violates the Constitution and the laws of the land. Let me know if any of the journalists of Rappler have been prevented from reporting or if they’ve been censored,” the spokesman said.
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