Duterte: Rappler has no place in Palace
President Duterte yesterday maintained that online news outfit Rappler has no place in Malacañang after he and presidential spokesman Harry Roque accused the site of peddling fake news.
A day after the Palace barred Rappler’s Malacañang beat reporter Pia Ranada from entering Malacañang complex, Duterte said that he was not infringing on the freedom of the press after he invoked “executive action” based on the decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
“Because it is not a legitimate agency according to the SEC, so I am now invoking executive action based on the SEC ruling,” Duterte said in a press briefing after visiting the wake of murdered Filipino worker Joanna Demafelis in Iloilo City yesterday.
“Kung sabihin nila legitimate sila, pasok kayo
uli. Walang problema sa akin ’yan (If the SEC says Rappler is legitimate, then it can come in again, I have no problem with that),” the President added.
Duterte accused Rappler of being backed by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and that the online news site “takes every chance to undermine you.”
The President also noted that the CIA has been behind the conspiracy to topple leaders who are against the US. He said the CIA does it by helping out political dissenters and supporting them in a bid to oust the enemy.
Duterte again aired his rant that Rappler has been distorting its reports, unlike other news outfits.
Earlier yesterday, Roque confirmed anew that Duterte felt he was disrespected in his own house when Rappler, especially Ranada, went overboard in the way it presented the news involving the President as well as his assistant, Christopher “Bong” Go.
“Because of the fake news and the fact that he has had very good relations with Pia Ranada, and he felt that he should be the last to be victimized by fake news,” Roque said.
The spokesman also allayed fears that Malacañang’s move against Rappler and Ranada sends a chilling effect on other media outfits and media personalities. “Pamamahay po ni Presidente iyon.
Anong sinasabi ninyong silencing for dissent? Kahit sino po, kapag binastos tayo sa tahanan natin, palalabasin natin. Huwag po nating freedom of the press issue ito; kabastusan po ito sa pagpapakalat ng fake news doon sa tahanan ng isang tao (It’s the President’s home. What silencing for dissent are you talking about? Anyone who disrespects a person in his own home would be sent out. Let’s not make this an issue on freedom of the press; spreading fake news in someone’s home is disrespectful),” Roque said.
He dismissed claims that the Palace’s move was an affront to the constitutionally backed freedom of the press in the country.
“She was allowed to cover Malacañang after Rappler was declared to be controlled by foreigners by the SEC only because of liberality of the President. Liberality ceased because of her insistence that her fake news was in fact news,” he said.
“We cannot allow anyone into the President’s home, especially a person who insists on disrespecting the home by reporting fake news,” he added.
Amid the divide caused by Malacañang’s move against Rappler, Roque did not comment on reports that Presidential Security Group commander Gen. Lopez Dagoy won’t apologize for his statement against Ranada.
“I cannot imagine General Dagoy saying that, so I cannot comment on an alleged statement that he said because I did not hear it,” Roque said.
“What I can tell you, the President will not countenance the use of violence against civilian population, that is why he branded that NPA-CPP as terrorist organization because they continually target civilian population,” he added, referring to the New People’s Army and Communist Party of the Philippines.
NBI junks complaint vs Rappler
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday said the libel complaint filed by a businessman against news website Rappler was without basis.
NBI Cybercrime Division chief Manuel Eduarte said Wilfredo Keng’s 2017 complaint against the online news outfit had already passed the one-year prescription period aside from the fact that it has no merit.
Eduarte said Rappler’s story about Keng could not be considered as a continuous offense since there is nothing new with their subsequent articles.
In its May 2012 article, Rappler named Keng as the owner of the black Chevrolet Suburban vehicle allegedly used by former chief justice Renato Corona.
At the time, one of Keng’s companies had a pending case in a lower court, the news website reported.
Rappler also reported about Keng’s alleged involvement in human trafficking and smuggling.
Rappler’s subsequent reports had basically the same drift as Keng refuted the story and charged the news organization and its chief executive officer Maria Ressa with violation of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Law.