MANILA —
Philippine journalist
Maria Ressa’s news company Rappler was continuing to work
“as usual”, the Nobel Peace Prize winner said on Wednesday, after it was
ordered to shut down by authorities ahead of President Rodrigo Duterte’s last
day in office.
اضافة اعلان
Ressa has been a
vocal critic of Duterte and the deadly drug war he launched in 2016, triggering
what media advocates say is a grinding series of criminal charges, probes and
online attacks against her and Rappler.
The latest blow
was delivered by the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission.
In a statement
Wednesday, it confirmed the “revocation of the certificates of incorporation”
of Rappler for violating “constitutional and statutory restrictions on foreign
ownership in mass media”.
Rappler said the
decision “effectively confirmed the shutdown” of the company and vowed to
appeal, describing the proceedings as “highly irregular”.
But Ressa was
characteristically defiant, vowing the news site would continue to operate as
they followed the legal process.
“We continue to
work, it is business as usual,” Ressa told reporters, adding “we can only hope
for the best” under Duterte’s successor
Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Marcos Jr, the son
of the Philippines’ former dictator who presided over widespread human rights
abuses and corruption, takes over from Duterte on Thursday.
Activists fear
Marcos Jr’s presidency could worsen the situation for human rights and freedom
of speech in the country.
‘Retaliation’
Rappler has had to fight for
survival as Duterte’s government accused it of violating a constitutional ban
on foreign ownership in securing funding, as well as tax evasion.
It has also been accused of cyber libel — a new
criminal law introduced in 2012, the same year Rappler was founded.
Duterte has attacked the website by name, calling it
a “fake news outlet”, over a story about one of his closest aides.
The news organization is accused of allowing
foreigners to take control of its website through its parent company Rappler
Holdings’ issuance of “depositary receipts”.
Under the constitution, investment in media is
reserved for Filipinos or Filipino-controlled entities.
The case springs from a 2015 investment from the
US-based Omidyar Network, which was established by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar.
Omidyar Network
later transferred its investment in Rappler to the site’s local managers to
stave off efforts by Duterte to shut it down.
“Let the law take its course, and allow the
Securities and Exchange Commission (to) perform its mandate,” presidential
spokesman Martin Andanar said.
“Rappler may avail of remedies accorded to it by
law.”
Ressa, who is also a US citizen, and Russian
journalist
Dmitry Muratov were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October for
their efforts to “safeguard freedom of expression”.
Ressa is fighting at least seven court cases,
including an appeal against a conviction in a cyber libel case, for which she
is on bail and faces up to six years in prison.
Rappler faces about eight cases, Ressa said.
‘Legal harassment’
Human Rights Watch said the
website was facing “retaliation for its fearless reporting”.
The International Center For Journalists (ICFJ)
urged the Philippine government to reverse its order to shut down Rappler.
“This legal harassment not only costs Rappler time,
money and energy. It enables relentless and prolific online violence designed
to chill independent reporting,” ICFJ said on Twitter.
The future of Rappler and its battle in the
country’s highly politicized legal system under Marcos Jr’s presidency is
uncertain.
The president-elect has given few clues about his
views on the website and the broader issue of freedom of speech.
He has largely shunned media interviews and press
conferences, preferring to communicate via his press secretary and through
social media.
US Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, who is heading a
delegation to the Philippines for Marcos Jr’s inauguration, would not comment
on the Rappler case.
He told reporters in Manila that the US administration
had a “deep commitment towards freedom of speech, freedom of expression, human
rights”.
Read more Region and World
Jordan News
.jpg)
.jpg)
