A Philippine news company co-founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa has been ordered shut down, the company said Wednesday, a day before the departure of President Rodrigo Duterte, its archenemy.
Ressa has openly criticized Duterte and the fatal war on drugs he introduced in 2016, triggering what media advocates say is a crushing series of charges, investigations and attacks against her and Rappler.
The most recent coup delivered through the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission.
On a Wednesday, it showed Rappler’s “revocation of the certificate of incorporation” for violating “constitutional and legal restrictions on foreign ownership in the media. “
Rappler said the resolution “effectively showed the closure” of the company and vowed to appeal, calling the procedure “very irregular. “
Rappler co-founder Maria Ressa, outspoken critic of President Rodrigo Duterte Photo: AFP/MARIA TAN
“We’ve discussed every imaginable scenario with Rapplers (staff) since the SEC issued its first order in 2018,” Glenda Gloria, the site’s editor and co-founder, told reporters.
“Nothing prepares enough for a ‘kill’ order. “
Rappler had to fight for his survival when the Duterte government accused him of violating a constitutional ban on foreign ownership to discharge funds, as well as tax evasion.
It also accused him of cyber defamation: a new criminals law introduced in 2012, the same year he founded Rappler.
Duterte attacked the direct name, calling it “fake media,” after an article about one of his closest collaborators.
Rappler CEO Maria Ressa said the SEC showed its 2018 order to shut down the news organization. Photo: AFP / Maria TAN
The news portal is accused of allowing foreigners to take out its online page by issuing “certificates of deposit” through its parent company Rappler Holdings.
According to the Constitution, investment in the media is limited to Filipinos or Filipino-controlled entities.
The case arises from the investment in 2015 of the American corporate Omidyar Network, which he created through the founder of eBay, Pierre Omidyar.
Omidyar then transferred his investment in Rappler to local managers of the site for Duterte’s efforts to shut it down.
Ressa, a U. S. citizen, and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov received the Nobel Peace Prize in October for their efforts to “safeguard freedom of expression. “
Ressa is fighting at least seven court cases, an appeal opposed to a conviction in a cyber defamation case, for which he is out on bail and faces up to six years in prison.
The International Center for Journalists has suggested that the Philippine government oppose its order to shut down Rappler.
“This legal harassment not only costs Rappler time, money and energy, but enables relentless and prolific online violence designed to chill independent reporting,” the ICFJ said in a post on Twitter.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. , son of the former Philippine dictator who presided over human rights violations and corruption, succeeds Duterte on Thursday.
Activists worry that Marcos Jr. ‘s presidency could worsen human rights and freedom of expression in the country.