MANILA, Philippines— Rappler on Monday afternoon said the order of the Security and Exchange Commission to revoke its registration has “no effect on its operations.”
“This is going to be business as usual – no changes,” Rappler editor Chay Hofileña said in a press briefing, adding that its reporters are ordered to continue writing stories and cover affairs for media until the registration is revoked with finality.
The online media outfit, which cried political attack, said that they have been anticipating the decision of the SEC and they are ready to pursue legal remedies for it. Hofileña said their team would file a motion for reconsideration.
“There's supposed to be a legal process. We will go to the proper courts to present our case, file necessary motions,” the editor said.
“If warranted, we will even go to the Supreme Court,” she added.
On Monday, SEC issued the 29-page ruling dated January 11, ordering the closure of Rappler over questions on foreign ownership.
Rappler allegedly “acted with deceit in a scheme to justify the grant of control and also financial returns, to foreign investors when they sold the Omidyar Network Philippine Depositary Receipts.”
READ: SEC revokes news site Rappler's registration
Due to this, SEC said Rappler violated the constitutional and statutory Foreign Equity Restriction in Mass Media. Hofileña said the SEC resolution was released in just five months, which she said was swift than expected.
Rappler chief Maria Ressa also defended the online media outfit and maintained that it is an all-Filipino owned company. She called for the public’s support as they fight for the press freedom and said its finances are also not affected.
“We expected this process to last a year but we will continue to fight it. We would want the government to respect the rule of law,” she said.