News outlet critical of Duterte loses licence

BEIJING • Philippine authorities revoked Monday the registration of a leading news outlet critical of President Rodrigo Duterte, renewing questions about the president’s commitment to a free press.

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission found that Rappler, a popular and pioneering news website, violated constitutional restrictions on ownership and control of mass media.

The country’s constitution says mass media entities must be wholly owned by Filipinos; The SEC claims Rappler violated those rules when it received money from Omidyar Network, a fund created by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar — who is not Filipino.

Rappler denies wrongdoing and has stated publicly that Omidyar’s investment was made through depository receipts that let companies invest in local media without ceding ownership.

In a statement published Monday, the company said the decision amounted to a gag order. “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,” the statement read.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said the decision reminded her of the era of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“The revocation of Rappler’s registration is pure harassment and a clear attack on press freedom, she wrote on Twitter. “It is also Marcosian. It’s a move straight out of the dictator’s playbook.”

“I urge the public and all media practitioners to defend press freedom& the right to speak truth to power,” she added.

Many Filipino journalists see the SEC case as a bid to stop Rappler’s dogged and affecting reporting on Duterte’s campaign against suspected drug users and dealers.

Duterte and his allies have repeatedly threatened the news outlet. In last summer’s state of the nation address, for instance, Duterte called out Rappler by name.

The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines both condemned the ruling, as did many prominent Filipino journalists.

Rappler said it does not plan to stop operating and will pursue the case in court.

“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.”