黑料社区

MANILA: An online news platform critical of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday asked the Court of Appeals to set aside the corporate regulator鈥檚 decision to revoke its license, invoking freedom of the press.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ruled that news website Rappler violated foreign equity restrictions on domestic media because it 鈥渟old control to foreigners,鈥� a decision Rappler contested.
The SEC said its decision had not become final, allowing Rappler to continue business, pending a court challenge within 15 days.
鈥淭he SEC鈥檚 real purpose in going after Rappler and Rappler Holdings Corporation is to silence them and muzzle freedom of speech,鈥� the firm told the court, asking for the ruling to be set aside as the 鈥渟tate has acted with tyranny by putting them out of business.鈥�
It added, 鈥淩appler is being made to pay the ultimate price for exercising the freedom of the press.鈥�
Rappler鈥檚 lawyer, Francis Lim, said it hoped the case 鈥渨ill ultimately be decided for the interest of the country.鈥�
鈥淥ur petition raises legal issues that have far-reaching implications on business and press freedom,鈥� Lim said, adding the SEC decision 鈥渉as a chilling effect on business鈥� and could be disastrous to government efforts to attract foreign capital.
The online news platform said no foreigner had exercised control, whether direct or indirect, over it, adding that the SEC had violated its own rules by denying Rappler due process.
Rappler said it was not informed about the decision by a special investigation panel of the regulator and was surprised by the January 11 decision revoking its license.
SEC head Teresita Herbosa welcomed Rappler鈥檚 court challenge. 鈥淚t鈥檚 their right,鈥� she said in a text to Reuters.
A UN rapporteur and journalists鈥� groups in the Philippines and abroad have expressed concern over the SEC鈥檚 decision, calling it an assault on the freedom of the press.
Duterte鈥檚 spokesman Harry Roque said the issue was distant from questions about press freedom, as Rappler used 鈥渄eceptive schemes鈥� to raise funds. He also denied any political pressure on the SEC to target the president鈥檚 critics.
Rappler has repeatedly drawn the ire of Duterte, who called it a 鈥渇ake news outlet鈥� after it said his closest aide, Bong Go, had intervened in a naval frigate project.