Overturn ban on Rappler coverage, journalists ask SC

The Rappler newsroom at Capitol Commons in Pasig City (Photo by GRIG C.MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Journalists from other media outfits have joined online news site Rappler in asking the Supreme Court to overturn Malacañang’s order banning Rappler reporters from covering events and stories in the executive branch of government.

Forty-one print, broadcast and online journalists, including Inquirer columnists Solita Collas-Monsod, Ceres Doyo and John Nery; former Inquirer associate editor Nilo Paurom and reporters Jovic Yee, Krixia Subingsubing, Dexter Cabalza and Matthew Reysio-Cruz, filed a petition for intervention on Tuesday.

The group said the ban that the President had ordered on March 1, 2018, “extends not only to Rappler and its reporters and staff, but also to any journalist who would write or broadcast anything that the President deems to be ‘fake news.’”

The journalists supported Rappler’s contention that the ban violated the constitutional guarantees of press freedom, free speech, due process and equal protection, and was tantamount to prior restraint.

The others who joined the petition included Luis Teodoro, Melinda de Jesus and Vergel Santos of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility; ABS-CBN anchor Tina Monzon-Palma; GMA 7 reporters Raffy Tima, Mariz Umali and Sandra Aguinaldo; cable One News presenter Lourd de Veyra, and president emeritus of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communications Florangel Braid.

The petition was filed through counsel, former Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te.

According to Rappler, the ban began on Feb. 20, 2018, when its Malacañang reporter Pia Ranada was not allowed to enter the New Executive Building where the press briefing of then presidential spokesperson Harry Roque was being held.