(Eagle News) — The Rappler case does not involve the issue of press freedom.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Friday said that allegations that it involved such were therefore merely “fake news.”
“(It’s) about avarice for money that violates the (Constitution) and the laws of the land,” he said.
Roque noted that the decision to revoke Rappler’s registration was made by the Securities and Exchange Commission “manned by (former President Noynoy) Aquino appointees.”
“(I will give) them credence if they can show (which) outfit has been shut down, who has been prohibited to report, when there was either censorship or prior restraint.. Let me know if any of the (Rappler representatives) have been prevented from reporting or if they’ve been censored,” he said.
Roque made the statement after Agnes Callamard, the United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and two others said they were “concerned” about the SEC’s move to revoke Rappler’s registration.
Callamard already earned the ire of President Rodrigo Duterte last year, after she publicly called on the chief executive to stop the drug war.
The President slammed Callamard for her statements that were seen as tantamount to interfering in the Philippines’ affairs.
“This is the Republic of the Philippines, not a French territory,” Duterte shot back.
The SEC revoked the incorporation certificates of Rappler and Rappler Holdings Corp. after it found they issued Philippine Depository Receipts to foreign entities North Base Media and Omidyar through NBM Rappler.
In ruling for the revocation, the SEC cited the provision on foreign equity restriction enshrined in the Philippine Constitution.
The provision prohibits foreign entities from having any form of ownership or control of Philippine mass media.
“The foreign restriction is very clear. Anything less than one hundred percent (100%) Filipino control is a violation. Conversely, anything more than exactly zero percent (0%) foreign control is a violation,” the SEC decision read.
