Aguirre asks NBI to probe Rappler

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre has formally directed the National Bureau of Investigations to conduct probe into Rappler's possible violation of Constitution and laws.

Aguirre signed Department Order 17 Wednesday authorizing the NBI to conduct a case build-up against Rappler, two days after the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a ruling revoking its registration.

On Tuesday, the justice chief revealed that his office has started a review of SEC’s decision and the legal issue involving Rappler’s ownership.

He also bared that the DOJ probe would cover possible criminal liabilities of executives of the online media outfit.

During the inauguration of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ air traffic management systems Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte denied he was behind SEC’s decision.

“We never had the hand and I don’t give a s*** if you continue or not continue with your network... we never had the hand, except those people who have been attacking us below the belt,” Duterte said.

SEC revoked the registration of Rappler for allegedly violating constitutional restrictions on ownership and control of mass media entities because of funds coming from Omidyar Network.

The investigation into issues on Rappler’s ownership was prompted by a letter from the Office of the Solicitor General in December 2016.

Rappler has contended that its funding from Omidyar Network, created by eBay founder and entrepreneur Pierre Omidyar, is through Philippine Depositary Receipts. PDR is a “financial instrument that does not give the owner voting rights in the board or management of the company,” the news site said Monday.

READ: Duterte: No harassment of Rappler

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