Rappler’s Permit Revoked

Media ownership is intended only for its citizens in the Philippines. Anything more than 0% share is prohibited under the constitution.  This is the case a media outlet is now in the frying pan.

  
Rappler is partly owned by foreigner and this is the reason why the Security and Exchange Commision (SEC) revoked its permit to operate.   North Base Media of George Soros ( journalist Marcus Brauchli of NBM claimed that Rappler is NBM's biggest investments in the region, [see Top Journalists' independent media fund invest in Rappler by www.rappler.com]) and Pierre Omidyar of eBay who used Rappler Holding Company  through Philippines Depositary Receipts are the two foreign financiers.  Rappler was given a chance to explain its side by SEC since December 14, 2016, but for almost one year it was not able to convince the Commission and is now crying for help and claiming of harassment.

Many times, internet users found on line news of Rappler as "fake news" and critical of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. It propagated that Duterte' s illegal drug campaign causes more or less 7000 death (Michael Bueza’s story on Rappler dated Sep 13, 2016) with no source to prove it and was picked by foreign media as facts. However, with official Philippines National Police tally, out of 70,854 anti-illegal drugs operations conducted from July 1, 2016 to August 29, 2017, there are only 3811 death in the said operation. And lately, one of Rappler's reporter, Pia Ranada, stated that Christopher  "Bong" Go, Duterte's Special Assistant, intervened in the purchase of Php 15.5 billion combat ships through National Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, which the President frankly denied and warned the reporter to prove her accusation overnight and if proven, he will fire Go right away. The reporter might based have her accusation through rumors and cannot point her source.  There are speculations that said report is the product of lies that a certain opposition senator has been feeding the media to destroy the good reputation of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Now, Rappler's CEO Maria Ressa has been complaining that what the SEC has done is in violation of press freedom and that Duterte is the one manipulating and suppressing critical media. The fact that Rappler is being financed by foreign funds, such as the findings of SEC which is unconstitutional and that Duterte has no hands in its permit cancellation, is undeniable.  Furthermore, the  CEO is being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation for cyber crime and libel relative to the accusation that a certain guy lent his SUV to former Chief justice Corona who was abruptly removed by the bribery-ridden impeachment court of the Aquino regime.