Senators cite looming attack on press freedom
Published Jan 15, 2018 06:42 pm
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola
Senators cited looming attack on press freedom following the Security and Exchange Commission's order to close down online news website Rappler.
Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public information and mass media, said she wants to ensure that the SEC's landmark decision, published on today, will not oppress freedom of the press and the right to expression.
Poe, while noting that she is yet to review the Rappler's supposed violations, said she recognizes that certain processes have to be followed, such as requirements for media entities.
Senator Grace Poe (Credit: Grace Poe Official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
"As long as it will not silence and stop groups or organizations' freedom to express, that's what I wanted to be assured of...It should not prevent an organization from news reporting, or expressing opinions, that are done in accordance with law," she said in an interview.
Senate justice and human rights committee chairman Sen. Richard Gordon, for his part, opposed the "sudden" revocation of the news websites' registration as he stressed that the SEC should have a clear and legal basis behind its order.
"The SEC better have a real good reason for closing down...Because freedom of the press, which is, I think, in every democracy, should not be meddled with," Gordon said.
"In principle, I really oppose as a lawyer and as a citizen of this country that you will suddenly close down (a media organization)," he said.
Opposition Sen.Riza Hontiveros, meanwhile, slammed the SEC revocation order as "pure harassment" and a "sign" of the looming curtailing of press freedom.
"Ang mamamayan sa panahon ngayon ng fake news at propaganda ay umaasa sa inyong mga established media tulad ng Rappler. At yung pagpapasasara sa kanila ay napakasamang hudyat sa lalong pagsakal sa freedoom of the press at access as tunay na balita," she told reporters.
Hontiveros also called on the public and other media practitioners to defend press freedom and the right to speak truth to power.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV likewise condemned the SEC's revocation of the registration of Rappler. He attributed the move to President Duterte who, he said, attempts to "muzzle the few independent media outlets in the country."
"It would also send a chilling message to other media entities to force them to tow the administration's propaganda lines," he added.
Liberal Party president and Sen. Francis Pangilinan, meanwhile, aired his support for Rappler and called for "solidarity."
"We stand with Rappler and all other truth-tellers. We stand for freedom — the very essence of liberalism. We offer a platform where we can come together and determine what we can do to rise to the challenges to our freedoms and our constitutional democracy. We are here," he said in a statement.
The SEC en banc in its January 11 decision ordered the cancellation of Rappler's Certificate of Incorporation for supposedly violating constitutional restrictions on ownership and control of mass media entities.
This, after the agency was ordered by the Office of the Solicitor General in December 2016 to investigate Rappler over alleged ownership issues, which President Duterte had initially raised.
Rappler is also known to debunk fake news articles being circulated in social media, particularly those by public officials and known personalities.
Despite the SEC's order, Rappler, in a statement, vowed to "continue bringing the news, holding the powerful to account for their actions and decisions, calling attention to government lapses that further disempower the disadvantaged."
Senator Grace Poe (Credit: Grace Poe Official Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
"As long as it will not silence and stop groups or organizations' freedom to express, that's what I wanted to be assured of...It should not prevent an organization from news reporting, or expressing opinions, that are done in accordance with law," she said in an interview.
Senate justice and human rights committee chairman Sen. Richard Gordon, for his part, opposed the "sudden" revocation of the news websites' registration as he stressed that the SEC should have a clear and legal basis behind its order.
"The SEC better have a real good reason for closing down...Because freedom of the press, which is, I think, in every democracy, should not be meddled with," Gordon said.
"In principle, I really oppose as a lawyer and as a citizen of this country that you will suddenly close down (a media organization)," he said.
Opposition Sen.Riza Hontiveros, meanwhile, slammed the SEC revocation order as "pure harassment" and a "sign" of the looming curtailing of press freedom.
"Ang mamamayan sa panahon ngayon ng fake news at propaganda ay umaasa sa inyong mga established media tulad ng Rappler. At yung pagpapasasara sa kanila ay napakasamang hudyat sa lalong pagsakal sa freedoom of the press at access as tunay na balita," she told reporters.
Hontiveros also called on the public and other media practitioners to defend press freedom and the right to speak truth to power.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV likewise condemned the SEC's revocation of the registration of Rappler. He attributed the move to President Duterte who, he said, attempts to "muzzle the few independent media outlets in the country."
"It would also send a chilling message to other media entities to force them to tow the administration's propaganda lines," he added.
Liberal Party president and Sen. Francis Pangilinan, meanwhile, aired his support for Rappler and called for "solidarity."
"We stand with Rappler and all other truth-tellers. We stand for freedom — the very essence of liberalism. We offer a platform where we can come together and determine what we can do to rise to the challenges to our freedoms and our constitutional democracy. We are here," he said in a statement.
The SEC en banc in its January 11 decision ordered the cancellation of Rappler's Certificate of Incorporation for supposedly violating constitutional restrictions on ownership and control of mass media entities.
This, after the agency was ordered by the Office of the Solicitor General in December 2016 to investigate Rappler over alleged ownership issues, which President Duterte had initially raised.
Rappler is also known to debunk fake news articles being circulated in social media, particularly those by public officials and known personalities.
Despite the SEC's order, Rappler, in a statement, vowed to "continue bringing the news, holding the powerful to account for their actions and decisions, calling attention to government lapses that further disempower the disadvantaged."