Philippine news website Rappler’s licence revoked after Rodrigo Duterte threat to expose its ‘American ownership’
Rappler: ‘This is pure and simple harassment, the seeming coup de grace to the relentless and malicious attacks against us since 2016’
The Philippine government has revoked the operating licence of leading news website Rappler, officials said Monday in a ruling denounced by President Rodrigo Duterte’s critics as another blow to press freedom.
Rappler, set up in 2012, is among a clutch of Philippine news organisations that have sparred with Duterte over their critical coverage of his brutal drugs war.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it had revoked the incorporation certificates of Rappler and Rappler Holdings Corp because they violated a provision in the Philippine constitution reserving media ownership to Filipinos.
“(Both are) existing for no other purpose than to effect a deceptive scheme to circumvent the constitution,” the agency said in a January 11 ruling posted on its website Monday.
Rappler’s acting managing editor Chay Hofilena said the company would file a court appeal against the ruling, which is due to take effect in 15 days.
