Rappler to Duterte: We do our jobs based on facts

Rappler on Sunday slammed President Rodrigo Duterte's allegation that investigative journalists are being paid to attack him.

"Why is it that the President's reflex is to accuse the media, and almost everyone who doesn't toe his line, of being paid and having a hidden agenda?" Rappler said in a statement.

"We're merely doing our jobs by writing stories based on facts. We suggest the President does his by addressing the country's most pressing problems and not picking on us," it added.

On Saturday, Duterte said that the public should not believe investigative reports and claimed that investigative journalism is non-existent in the country.

"Dito sa Pilipinas, wala talaga 'yang investigative journalism. Huwag kayo maniwala diyan sa PCIJ [Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism]. Pera-pera lang 'yan ...itong Rappler, itong mga warik-warik," Duterte said.

"Huwag mong sabihin sa pagiging writer lang o sa suweldo lang nila bilang writer. Hindi 'yan sasapat. Tumatanggap din 'yan ng kliyente para umatake. ACDC [attack and collect; defend and collect]," he added.

GMA News Online has also reached out to the PCIJ for comment.

A report was recently published by the PCIJ claiming "big spikes" in the wealth of the President and two of his children, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, during their tenure in public office, as indicated in their Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

Duterte previously blasted the report and said that what they earned outside their duties in public office was none of his critics' business. — Dona Magsino/BM, GMA News