The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Philippines shuts down news site critical of Duterte
MANILA — The Philippines ordered the closing Monday of an independent online news site that has been critical of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, prompting protests from industry groups who called the move an attack on press freedom.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines said the news site, Rappler, had violated a constitutional rule that restricts ownership of media entities to Filipinos.
The commission said that Rappler had employed a “deceptive scheme to circumvent” the rules, an allegation that the online publication denied and vowed to fight in court.
In a note to its readers, Rappler said that it had been warned last month that a ruling was being prepared but added that it had been confident the regulator would decide in its favor.
“The SEC’s kill order revoking Rappler’s license to operate is the first of its kind in history — both for the commission and for Philippine media,” the note said.
“What this means for you, and for us, is that the commission is ordering us to close shop, to cease telling you stories, to stop speaking truth to power, and to let go of everything that we have built — and created — with you since 2012,” it added.
The Philippines has one of the region’s most freewheeling news industries. More than 30 newspapers have sprung up across the country since democracy was restored 32 years ago.
Rappler said that it had been consistently transparent and that it had told corporate regulators about its company structure when it started operating in 2012.
“Transparency, we believe, is the best proof of good faith and good conduct,” said Rappler.
“This is pure and simple harassment, the seeming coup de grâce to the relentless and malicious attacks against us since 2016,” Rappler said.
The president’s office sought to distance itself from the order, saying it was the commission’s job to determine corporate legality.
“We respect the SEC decision that Rappler contravenes the strict requirements of the law that the ownership and management of mass media entities must be wholly owned by Filipinos,” a presidential spokesman, Harry Roque, said.
The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, formed in the 1970s to work for press freedom at the height of former President Ferdinand Marcos’ regime, expressed “deep regret” over the move.
“The decision, which is tantamount to killing the online news site, sends a chilling effect to media organizations in the country,” the group said.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines also denounced the government, calling the move a vendetta by Duterte and urging media in the country to protest.