UN experts urge Philippines to preserve free media

UN human rights experts called on the Philippines government on Thursday to allow independent news websiteRapplerto operate and raised concern about rising rhetoric against voices critical of President RodrigoDuterte.

The country's Securities and Exchange Commission revokedRappler'slicence on Jan. 11 for ownership violations. MariaRessa, chief ofRappler, met state investigators on Monday to answer what she called a suspicious complaint about a 2012 story.

"We are gravely concerned that the government is moving to revokeRappler'slicence," three United Nationshuman rights experts said in a joint statement. "We are especially concerned that this move againstRapplercomes at a time of rising rhetoric against independent voices in the country."

The Philippines authorities denyRappleris being punished, but say it broke the law in 2015 by granting American investorOmidyarNetwork the means to exercise control over the news site, or veto powers on company decisions.

Rappler, which continues to operate normally pending an appeal, denies it broke the law.

"Rappler's work rests on its own freedom to impart information, and more importantly its vast readership to have access to its public interest reporting," the UNexperts said.

There was no basis under international human rights law to blockRapplerfrom operating, they said: "Rapplerand other independent outlets need particular protection because of the essential role they play in ensuring robust public debate."

Diplomats at the Philippines mission in Geneva were not immediately available to comment on the statement, which was issued by David Kaye, UN special rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, MichelForst, UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders, and AgnesCallamard, UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

Ressawas interviewed at Rappler'soffices by Adrienne Arsenault, co-anchor of CBC'sThe National, for a 2017 documentary on how pro-Duterteforces use fake news against opponents.

Fake news in the Philippines

7 years ago

Duration 11:38

Fake news has proven to be influential in the U.S., but it may be even more powerful in the Philippines, where technology and celebrity make people vulnerable to false reports