The Securities and Exchange Commission upheld its decision to shut down the online news organization Rappler on June 28 according to its CEO Maria Ressa. Senator Risa Hontiveros and Senator Bong Revilla released their respective statements regarding the issue. The two senators viewed the decision by the SEC differently. 

Senator Hontiveros showed her support to Rappler by condemning the outgoing Duterte administration as they continue to assault independent press and seek ways to  threaten legitimate news organizations over the years. 

"It is truly deplorable that this administration continues to find new ways of threatening legitimate news organizations not to exercise press freedom," she said. 

Hontiveros also lambasted the given accreditation to 'unaccountable and insensitive vloggers and internet journalists' who are tasked to cover important events in the government while  'registered news outfits are being crushed'. 

"This only sows distrust and cultivates a tame coverage. We need critical, honest, and facts-based journalism. I will always fight for freedom of the press," she said. 

The shutdown of the news giant company ABS-CBN in 2020 and currently the threat to Rappler chip away the democracy in the country according to Hontiveros.

Moreover, Senator Bong Revilla has a different take on Rappler's shutdown. As a national government regulatory agency charged with supervision over the corporate sector, the capital market participants, and the securities, we should "respect" the SEC's decision. 

Revilla said that taking down the news organization should not be seen as suppression of press freedom nor a way to silence free speech but 'valid legal decision of the government’s regulatory body to uphold the provision of the Constitution to protect the Filipino people.'

"The merits of the Decision are based on the violation of Rappler, Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corporation as corporate entities, and not in any way based on its nature as part of the press," he clarified.