Hontiveros: SEC's shutdown order vs Rappler 'truly deplorable'

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday, June 29 slammed the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) shutdown order against Rappler calling it a “truly deplorable” act.

“It is truly deplorable that this administration continues to find new ways of threatening legitimate news organizations not to exercise press freedom,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

The SEC has announced it has affirmed its order revoking the certificates of incorporation of Rappler Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corp. for supposedly violating the foreign ownership restrictions on mass media companies.

The latest order affirms its decision in January 11, 2018 which found Rappler liable for violating the constitutional and statutory foreign equity restrictions in mass media.

Hontiveros noted that while many registered news outfits are being crushed, unaccountable and insensitive vloggers and internet journalists have been given accreditation to cover the most important events in government.

“This only sows distrust and cultivates a tame coverage,” the opposition senator said.

“We need critical, honest, and facts-based journalism. I will always fight for freedom of the press,” she further said.

The lawmaker further said silencing important media voices like Rappler—and ABS-CBN before it—not only affects the flow of information for the day.

“These assaults on independent press and other perceived ‘threats’ also chip away at our democracy,” she stressed.