Malacanang reacted to the recent statement of Rappler CEO and founder Maria Ressa regarding the permanent closure of the Lopez-controlled ABS-CBN Corporation because of the rejection of its application of franchise in the House of Representatives.
Malacanang has
branded Ressa actions as “playing the victim card” to sway sympathies from the
public.
“It is very evident
that Maria Ressa is playing the victim card by talking about the non-renewal of
the broadcast franchise of ABS-CBN after filing her ‘not guilty’ plea before a
local court,” Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque said in a statement
on July 22.
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| Rappler CEO Maria Ressa (photo credit to owner) |
Ressa who has been
known to be one of the fiercest critic of the Duterte administration pleaded
not guilty for a tax evasion case filed before the Pasig City Regional Trial
Court Branch 157.
The Rappler CEO was quoted as saying: “What
happened to ABS-CBN can happen to all of us. Journalists, we have to hold power
to account… We need to continue to demand accountability.”
To which Roque reolied that there is no truth
to Ressa’s statements, saying that President Duterte’s administration continues
to respect the constitutionally protected freedom of the press.
“ABS-CBN, Rappler, and other news entities
continue to report on the events happening in the country. A good case in point
is the ABS-CBN News coverage of the ‘not guilty’ plea of Maria Ressa, which can
be read online,” the Palace official said.
“The press can keep on reporting as long as
there is no violation and has the right to continue its operations,” he also
said.
The Presidential spokesperson reiterated that Congress asstated in the
Constitution has the exclusive authority o grant or revoke a broadcast
franchise.
“We have maintained a neutral stance on the
issue as part of our courtesy and respect to a separate co-equal branch of the
government.”
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