The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) warns that the decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revoke the license of online news outfit Rappler might have a “chilling effect” on media organizations.
“The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines expresses deep concern with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision to cancel the certificate of incorporation of Rappler,” the Focap board said in a statement on Monday.
“The decision, which is tantamount to killing the online news site, sends a chilling effect to media organizations in the country,” it added.
The group stressed that “journalists must be able to work independently in an environment free from intimidation and harassment.”
“An assault against journalists is an assault against democracy,” Focap said.
Focap’s statement came hours after the SEC released a copy of its decision revoking Rappler‘s registration, claiming the online news site “violated the constitutional and statutory Foreign Equity Restrictions in Mass Media.”
READ: SEC orders Rappler to shut down
The SEC claimed Rappler is owned by foreign firms Omidyar Network and North Base Media, which the news site denied.
“Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) do not indicate ownership,” Rappler said in a statement. “This means our foreign investors, Omidyar Network and North Base Media, do not own Rappler.”
“They invest, but they don’t own. Rappler remains 100-percent Filipino-owned,” it added.
During his State of the Nation Address last year, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to have Rappler’s ownership investigated. /atm