Move to shut down Rappler alarms UN human rights experts

MANILA, Philippines — United Nations human rights experts called on the Philippine government to protect and promote independent media instead of attempting to shut down an outlet critical of the current administration.

In a joint statement released Friday, three special rapporteurs expressed grave concern on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s move to revoke the license of news site Rappler.

“As a matter of human rights law, there is no basis to block it from operating. Rappler and other independent outlets need particular protection because of the essential role they play in ensuring robust public debate,” the UN experts said.

They said that the move to order the closure of Rappler “comes at a time of rising rhetoric against independent voices” in the country.

“We urge the government to return to its path of protection and promotion of independent media, especially those covering issues in the public interest.”

They questioned the SEC’s decision, noting the move “is at odds with its past approach to foreign supports of local or national media, given that philanthropic contributions do not amount to foreign ownership.”

SEC revoked the registration of Rappler for allegedly violating constitutional restrictions on ownership and control of mass media entities because of funds coming from foreign investors. The news outlet is continuing to operate while it is challenging the decision of SEC in court.

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 noted.

The UN experts who expressed their concern over the attempt to shut down Rappler were Agnes Callamard (special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings), David Kaye (special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression) and Michel Forst (special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders).

READ: Rights groups on Rappler closure: Don't shoot the messenger

Romualdez defends SEC’s decision

The government criticized the New York Times’ editorial urging the world to condemn an “effort to silence independent voices” in the Philippines.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez denied that the order to close down Rappler was politically-motivated.

Romualdez stressed that no one, including media organizations, should be exempted from complying with the law.

“The commission’s decision is about upholding the law. It has no bearing on the state of press freedom in the Philippines, where thousands of broadcast stations and newspapers continue to operate unhampered,” he wrote in a letter to the editor published by the NYT.

Romualdez also defended SEC’s chairperson Teresita Herbosa, noting she is “highly respected within legal and policy circles for her commitment to the rule of law and to the public interest.”