Duterte denies having hand in SEC ruling on Rappler

President Rodrigo Duterte speaks at the inauguration of the new Communications, Navigation, Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems Development Project at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (PATMC) in Pasay City on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. (Photo from an RTVM video)

“I don’t give a shit,” said President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday as he denied that he had a hand on the ruling of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC)revoking the registration of news website Rappler to operate.

Duterte made the remarks as Rappler CEO Maria Ressa claimed that Malacañang was behind the controversial SEC decision.

“We never had the hand and I don’t give a shit if you continue or not continue with your network,” he said during the inauguration of the new commmunication and surveillance equipment of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

The President said the decision of SEC to revoke Rappler’s license was not political.

“The composition of SEC, ngayon is puro Aquino iyan. There are about five, I only appointed one,” he said.

Duterte was referring to his predecessor, President Benigno Aquino III, who appointed four, not five, SEC commissioners, including its chair, Teresita Herbosa.

“So how could it be political? Basta kayo… Wala akong pakialam diyan,” Duterte added. “You have been throwing trash and shit all around. But pinabayaan ko kayo. Wala namang nakikialam. But then, may nasilip. Iyan nga ang mahirap. ‘Pag nasilip kayo na meron pala kayong… sabihin niyo namang harassment.”

He then slammed Rappler, saying the issue was not about press freedom but about “the abuse of the elite and those in power.”

“Kung kami ang mag-mura, masama. Kapag kayo ang maggawa ng kalokohan niyo, okay kayo,” he said.

He also slammed again media outfits critical of him and his administration.

“He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. You’re even trying to, you know, throw garbage at us. And then, the least we can do is to explain. How about you? Are you also clean?” he said. /atm