Co-founded by a Nobel Prize winner, the Philippine news website has been told to shut down
Co-founded by a Nobel Prize winner, the Philippine news website has been told to shut down
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A day before President Rodrigo Duterte, its arch-enemy, leaves office, the firm that runs a Philippine news website co-founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa announced Wednesday that it has been told to shut down.

Ressa has been an outspoken opponent of Duterte and the deadly drug campaign he began in 2016, leading to what media supporters claim is a protracted string of criminal accusations, investigations, and internet attacks against her and Rappler.

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission struck last, delivering the latest blow.

As a result of violating “constitutional and statutory prohibitions on foreign ownership in mass media,” it revealed in a statement on Wednesday that Rappler’s “certificates of incorporation” had been revoked.

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Rappler declared that the outcome “essentially confirmed the shutdown” of the business and threatened to file an appeal, calling the processes “very irregular.”

Glenda Gloria, executive editor and co-founder of the website, told reporters that since the SEC issued its initial order in 2018, “we have reviewed all potential eventualities with Rapplers (staff).”

“An organisation is never sufficiently ready for a “kill” order.”

Due to accusations by Duterte’s administration that Rappler had engaged in tax evasion and other violations of the constitution in order to secure funding, the news outlet has struggled to remain in business.

In 2012, the same year Rappler was formed, a new criminal legislation known as cyber libel was introduced, and the company has also been accused of violating it.

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Because of an article regarding one of his closest advisers, Duterte has specifically attacked the website, branding it a “fake news outlet.”

The news portal is charged with allowing foreigners to gain control of its website through the issuance of “depositary receipts” by its parent company Rappler Holdings.

According to the constitution, only Filipinos or organisations under Filipino control may invest in the media.

The case is the result of an investment made in 2015 by Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, through his US-based Omidyar Network.

Later, Omidyar moved its stake in Rappler to the site’s local operators to fend off Duterte’s attempts to shut it down.

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Ressa, a US citizen, and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov received the Nobel Peace Prize in October for their work to “safeguard freedom of expression.”

At least seven court cases involve Ressa, including an appeal against a finding of guilt in a cyber libel case, for which she is out on bail and might spend up to six years in jail.

The Philippine government has been encouraged by the International Center for Journalists to overturn its decision to shut down Rappler.

“Rappler spends time, money, and effort dealing with this legal nuisance. It encourages copious and persistent online aggression intended to stifle independent reporting, “In a statement published on Twitter, ICFJ warned.

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On Thursday, Duterte will be succeeded by Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the previous dictator’s son who oversaw massive violations of human rights and corruption in the Philippines.

Activists worry that Marcos Jr.’s presidency will harm the country’s human rights and freedom of speech.