World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers on Thursday, 18 January, in an open letter to Philippines President Rodrigo Détente, asked him to lift the closure order on Rappler, a news website known for challenging the government. In the letter, the body said that the closure of the website would leave an “indelible stain” on Philippines’ record of freedom of expression, and asked the President to take all possible steps to revoke the order.
WAN-INFRA, along with World Editors Forum, said this “is the latest in a string of state and media actions against the website, which has frequently been critical of your Presidency”.
The closure of Rappler appears to be a political manoeuvre and sends a chilling message to independent journalists across the country. It will also discourage foreign investment in an important industry to the detriment of both domestic businesses and wider society, which risks losing a vital independent voice.WAN-INFRA Letter
A Philippine’s law enforcement agency, National Bureau of Investigation, on Thursday, 19 January, summoned the head of Rappler to give its response in a complaint filed against it related to cyber crime, reported Straits Times.
Just a week earlier, on 11 January, the Securities and Exchange Commission of the country revoked Rappler’s Certificate of Incorporation, essentially giving it a closure order, citing that it did not comply with the regulations related to foreign ownership of mass media.
Rappler, in response to the same, said the Omidyar network did not own Rappler but has only invested in it. The network, which was a fund created by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, according to Rappler, does not have any voting rights or a say in how the company is run.
The news website is known for drawing the ire of the Duterte government, who on 17 January called it a "fake news outlet”. He however,denied influencing the regulator, or going after journalists.
Read the full letter here:
(With inputs from Straits Times.)
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