Philippine Press Institute, Probe throw support behind Rappler

Published January 17, 2018 4:15pm
Updated January 17, 2018 6:06pm

Three notable media groups on Wednesday expressed its support to embattled online news site Rappler at the heels of the government's decision to revoke its certificates of incorporation.

In separate statements, the Philippine Press Institute, The Probe Team and Probe Productions voiced their protest against the ruling of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The PPI, whose members include major national broadsheets, emphasized that critical press is vital in any democratic society.

"We need a critical press and a vigilant public to speak truth to power, hold government accountable and safeguard our freedoms as enshrined in the constitution," PPI executive director and trustee Ariel Sebellino said in a text message.

In a statement, the PPI stressed that any attempt to "muzzle" a critical press organization endangers the public's right to know and access to information.

"The PPI board stands in absolute solidarity with Rappler as we affirm our unequivocal support for a free and independent press," it said.

"We believe in Rappler and what it stands for. By allowing Rappler to be silenced, we fear for the media industry in the country," the PPI added.

Probe

A statement signed by 74 of current and former Probe members described the SEC decision as a "clear and categorical attack on the country's free press" and affirmed that they stand with the embattled media organization.

"As working journalists and professionals in the media industry since 1984, we have respectfully done our duty to report news and information without fear of censorship and shutdown -- until now," they said.

"We see these recent moves as an attempt of powers-that-be to discredit and damage media organizations that speak truth to power," they added.

The speed of the SEC decision reportedly revealed the administration's intent to "circumvent" Article III, Section 4 of the Constitution, which says, "No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, of the press, or the right of the people peacably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances."

They scored Duterte for his recent statements on the issue, as well as Solicitor General Jose Calida who asked the SEC to probe Rappler.

"Not since the Marcos dictatorship has the government ordered the closure of a news organization critical of the administration. This is a clear and categorical attack on the country's free press. For us, the line is drawn here," they said.

"We stand with all of our colleagues who have pursued the truth in the face of threats. We stand for press freedom. We stand with Rappler," they said.

SEC ruling

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

Rappler has called the decision "pure and simple harassment," noting its critical coverage of the Duterte administration.

Media organizations and senators have also scored the government for the ruling as a move against press freedom.

Malacañang, meanwhile, denied this accusation, even though President Rodrigo Duterte has called Rappler a "fake news outlet" in defending his special assistant, Christopher "Bong" Go, against reports that he intervened in a P15.5-billion project to acquire new weapons system for the Philippine Navy's frigate program. —Margaret Claire Layug/KBK, GMA News

Tags: rappler, philippinepressinstitute, theprobeteam