Palace’s action vs. Rappler’s Pia Ranada a ‘cause for concern’ —CHR chief

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairman Jose Luis Gascon on Friday said they are standing behind online news site Rappler amid the ban imposed by Malacañang on its beat reporter Pia Ranada.

"We stand by Rappler and all other press organizations that are fighting for access to information and the ability to tell this to the public," Gascon said in an interview with reporters.

"To deny Pia or anyone else for that matter on unjustifiable grounds is a cause for concern," he added. "We know that the press in this country will continue to do its part despite the difficult circumstances."

On Tuesday, Ranada was briefly barred from entering the New Executive Building where the press briefing room and press working area are located. She later bared that it was President Rodrigo Duterte himself who banned her from Malacanang.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea has said the ban stemmed from the decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission that revoked Rappler's incorporation papers for supposedly violating the constitutional prohibition on foreign ownership of mass media.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the ban on Rañada came about after Duterte became upset of Rappler and its alleged fake news reports.

Gascon questioned the stand of Roque, saying his justification of Ranada's ban is unusual for someone who claims to be a human rights advocate.

"For him to even justify the expulsion of Pia Ranada is unacceptable for someone who would claim to be for human rights," Gascon said.

Gascon said the issue on Ranada goes beyond her and the SEC ruling against Rappler. He also urged the public to support media organizations and fight for their right to freedom of information.

"They (media) serve an important function in a democracy, and that is to regularly inform the public about matters of public affairs so that we as a people might be able to make our own judgments and decision," Gascon said.

"Our words for Pia, for Rappler and all of you (in the press)… We all must stand together. This is not just about Pia or Rappler, it could be any of us and we must stand together to be able to have access to all matters of relevant information and to be able to speak this freely," he added. —KBK, GMA News