Robredo: SEC ruling vs. Rappler poses concerns on press freedom

Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday said the decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revoke Rappler’s corporate registration poses concerns on the freedom of the Philippine press.

“Ito pinagmumulan ‘to ng pagkabahala nating lahat kasi alam natin na parang yung freedom of the press, freedom of expression ay kabilang sa mga karapatan na itinataguyod sa ilalim ng ating Konstitusyon,” Robredo said in an ambush interview with reporters.

Robredo also underscored the role of journalists as “watchdogs” against irregularities and corruption in the government.

“Alam natin kung bakit kailangan ng media, alam natin kung ano yung silbi ng media. Parating sinasabi natin na yung media, sila yung inaasahan na maging watchdog, sila yung bantay para mabantayan yung pagsubok ng pangaabuso ng nasa pamahalaan,” she said.

“Kung wala ng bantay, ano na yung makakahadlang para sa pangaabuso ng mga opisyal? Inaasahan sana natin yung media yung tumututok sa ganon, ang media ang nagbibigay sa atin ng impormasyon kung merong mga ganitong pangaabusong nangyayari,” she added.

A former human rights lawyer, the Vice President said that attempts to muzzle the Philippine media should also give the public a cause for concern.

“Kaya yung kahit ano mang balita na merong pagsubok na parang i-curtail yung freedom of the press, freedom of expression [ay] isang bagay na kailangan mabahala yung bawat Pilipino,” she said.

The SEC in a decision dated January 11, revoked the certificate of incorporation of Rappler Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corp. for supposedly violating the foreign ownership restrictions on mass media companies.

According to the SEC, Rappler welcomed Omidyar Network—which the media organization said is "the fund created by eBay founder and entrepreneur Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam—as an investor in the online mass media outlet.

The SEC cited the Foreign Equity Restriction of the Philippine Constitution, which states that "(t)he ownership and management of mass media shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines, or to corporations, cooperatives or associations, wholly-owned and managed by such citizens."

"The Foreign Equity Restriction is very clear. Anything less than One Hundred Percent (100 percent) Filipino control is a violation," the SEC decision read.

"Conversely, anything more than exactly Zero Percent (0 percent) foreign control is a violation," the SEC added. — MDM, GMA News