On August 9, 2023, the Court of Appeals in Manila lifted the shutdown order against the news portal Rappler. The court decision restored the company’s certificate of incorporation and eliminated the risk of a shutdown. Maria Ressa called on the government of Marcos Jr. to refrain from further appeals and to respect the independence of the media.
The order was based on an accusation that Rappler had violated regulations on foreign ownership of media. The accusation dated back to the term of office of former President Duterte, whose so-called “war on drugs” was sharply criticized by Rappler. That’s why the shutdown order was considered politically motivated.
Despite the recent victory, Rappler still faces one charge for alleged online defamation or cyber libel and one charge for alleged violations of the “Anti-Dummy Law” (i.e., criminalizing foreign nationals who attempt to circumvent constitutional restrictions).
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