Can independent media in the Philippines survive?

Press freedom continues to be under attack in the Philippines, human rights and media advocacy groups say. In June, Philippine authorities issued a shutdown order for Rappler, the award-winning news site run by Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa.

Known for its investigative reporting on corruption and former president Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs”, Rappler has been accused of violating rules against foreign ownership of mass media. Ressa has vowed to keep the newsroom running.

Nobel Peace Prize for journalists in Russia and Philippines

 

The right to freedom of expression has been recognised by this year's Nobel Peace Prize, which has been awarded to two journalists known for their hard-hitting investigations which have angered their countries' powerful elites and leaders.

Philippine journalist Maria Ressa found guilty of 'cyber libel'

A Philippines court has found the veteran journalist and staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte Maria Ressa guilty of cyber libel. Maria Ressa now faces up to six years in prison. Dubbed a "dangerous precedent," the verdict is seen as a blow to press freedom in the country. Ressa, veteran journalist, was named one of Time Magazine's Persons of the Year in 2018.

Rodrigo Duterte Like His Mentor Hates A Free Press

Action against ABS-CBN denounced as worst attack yet on press by Rodrigo Duterte

Rodrigo Duterte shares a common bond with Donald Trump they despise the free press.  Their efforts to control the media have resulted in banning's, threats of violence and revocation of broadcast licenses.  Why?  Stating the obvious, they're both immature, embrace authoritarian rule and have fragile egos incapable of dealing with criticism.

Recently Donald Trump banned CNN from its annual anchors lunch help prior to the State of the Union Speech.  Duterte has accused The Rappler  a Philippine online news site of being foreign owned which violates the constitution.  Its editor a Philippine citizen Maria Ressa has faced long list of legal charges.  The Rappler had its licence revoked in 2018 thanks to its critical reporting of Duterte's administration.

A petition filed with the country’s top court alleges that ABS-CBN violated a restriction imposed by the constitution on foreign ownership of mass media by allowing overseas investors to join the company.

“We want to put an end to what we discovered to be highly abusive practices by ABS-CBN,” the solicitor general, Jose Calida, said in a statement. “A franchise is a special privilege granted by the state, and should be restricted only to entities which faithfully adhere to our constitution and laws.”

Other media outlets closed ranks and rallied in support of ABS-CBN on Monday. “We stand with our colleagues at ABS-CBN and share the hope that they will weather this and come out even stronger,” the news website Rappler said in a statement. “The Duterte administration, through Calida, is resorting to legal gymnastics to push their own agenda of silencing critical media.”