By Roy Mabasa The Philippine government’s revocation of Rappler’s operating license suggests a sinister use of state regulatory processes to stifle critical media voices, Phelim Kine, deputy director for Asia of the Human Rights Watch (HRW), said. (photo credit: wikimedia commons) “If (President) Duterte succeeds in silencing Rappler, it will have a profound chilling effect on Philippine media freedom, encouraging self-censorship by reporters and media outlets fearful of government reprisals for critical reporting at a time when the watchdog role of a free press is more urgently needed than ever,” Kine said in a statement Monday. Kine noted that the Philippine government has ratcheted up its attack on media freedom, threatening the closure of Rappler, a web start-up that has published several investigative stories, including pieces critical of the Duterte administration. The HRW official was reacting to the announcement made by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 15, revoking Rappler’s incorporation papers or operating license. In its decision, the SEC ruled that the investment infused by United States-based Omidyar Network, a fund created by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, was a “deceptive scheme” that violated both the Philippine Constitution and the SEC regulations that prohibit foreign ownership of mass media. In the same breath, the SEC also invalidated the investment made by the Omidyar Network, calling it a “fraudulent transaction.” “The Philippine media is just the latest in a growing list of institutions and individuals – including United Nations officials – who have been vilified by Duterte for seeking accountability for human rights violations. Duterte has sought to quash any meaningful inquiries into alleged crimes committed by police and their agents in the "war on drugs” that has killed thousands – a campaign the President has openly endorsed,” Kine said. Kine noted that the SEC’s action against Rappler came months after the “withering criticism and harassment of the media outlet by the Duterte government and his supporters.” “That criticism has centered on Rappler’s investigative reporting on issues ranging from the deployment of pro-Duterte paid internet trolls and bots to sow misinformation on social media, to an ongoing feature series about the Duterte government’s murderous ‘war on drugs.’ Duterte and his supporters have also targeted the news channel ABS-CBN as well as the Philippine Daily Inquirer, both known for their in-depth investigative reporting,” the HRW official said. In the same statement, Kine disclosed that the Omidyar family has been a “longtime donor” to HRW. The New York-based human rights advocacy group is also critical of Duterte’s war on drugs campaign.