Student journalists join protest against SEC action vs Rappler

Published: 1:32 p.m., Jan. 17, 2018 | Updated: 12:10 a.m., Jan. 18, 2018

It’s time to resist threats to press freedom. Speak out while you still can.

Student journalists made the calls at a rally on Wednesday in Mendiola near Malacañang against a decision made on Monday by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revoke the registration of online news site Rappler.

About 30 members CEGP from the University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines and Adamson University joined the rally.

What happened to Rappler was “not the beginning” of the attacks against independent media, which started after President Rodrigo Duterte took office in June 2016, according to Jose Maria Callueng, president of the College Editors of the Philippines (CEGP).

The SEC pointed out that the Constitution mandates Philippine media companies to be 100 percent owned by Filipinos. It noted that the charter prohibits foreigners from having any control or influence on local media – a policy Rappler allegedly violated.

Callueng, a law student, said the clamp down on media critical of the Duterte administration would continue if there were no resistance.

“Now is the time to speak up and resist the crackdown not only on journalists but also on citizens defending human rights,” Callueng said.

Callueng said as consumers of media products like news on television and in print, Filipinos need independent media to enhance their “critical thinking.”

Otherwise, he said, “we would be forced to be submissive and consume what they (government) want us to consume.”

Mikko Ringia, chair of the University of the Philippines-College of Mass Communication Student Council, said that the SEC ruling could only be the first step to muzzle the press.

“Ang panggigipit sa mga peryodista ay panggigipit sa demokrasya,” Ringia said during the program.

[The attack against the press is an attack to democracy.]

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) decided last week to revoke Rappler’s certificate of registration and incorporation for alleged violations of the constitutional restriction of 100 percent Filipino ownership and control of media entities.

The SEC made public its decision on Monday, triggering widespread condemnation from international and local human rights and press organizations.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Wednesday said he would soon order the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate Rappler executives to determine whether they violated any laws other than the anti-dummy law in connection with the SEC’s ruling.

The SEC’s action also met criticism in Mindanao, Mr. Duterte’s bailiwick.

“I personally believe in free press. What SEC did to Rappler is a rabid attack to a media entity that reports only the truth to people,” said Pamela Gay Perales, a journalist working for a local weekly newspaper in Tagum City.

The SEC action was “tantamount of censorship,” she said.

Broadcaster Zach Gomez said SEC’s decision showed government would not tolerate a critical press.

“Press is part of our vibrant democracy. Gagging it only emboldens the idea that the government can easily attack any media outfit in this country,” Gomez said.

“Rappler must be doing things right because government is harassing it,” according to Dr. Charles Marquez, a doctor to the barrio in Iligan City.

Carl Valenzuela, an overseas Filipino worker, however, said Rappler deserved to be shut down if it violated the law.

“If it violated something, then let it be … it’s for the good of the nation,” Valenzuela said. –With reports from Jerome Aning, Allan Nawal, Mart Sambalud And Divina Suson

/cbb /atm