Palace: No hand in NBI subpoena vs Rappler boss

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January 22, 2018
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MANILA – Malacañang had no hand in the subpoenas the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) issued to Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa and two others for cybercrime charges, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said.

Roque told reporters in Aklan province over the weekend that the summons was related to a complaint filed by a businessman, who demanded that Rappler remove an article reporting on the former’s alleged connection to the illegal drug trade.

Rappler did not comply, “hence, the suit,” said Roque.

“I’d like to clarify again that the Palace had no hand in the issuance of the subpoena,” he said. “Mayroon pong pribadong partido na naghain ng reklamo. Natural, didinggin po iyong reklamo.”

Ressa, former Rappler reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr. and businessman Benjamin Bitanga were ordered to appear before the NBI’s Cybercrime Division today over a complaint filed by Century Peak Metals Holdings Corp. CEO and president Wilfredo Keng.

Keng accused them of violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 in connection with the story titled “CJ using SUVs of ‘controversial’ businessmen,” which Santos wrote and Rappler published on May 29, 2012.

Before this, the Security and Exchange Commission ordered the revocation of Rappler’s business registration for allegedly violating constitutional restrictions on media ownership.

Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has also directed the NBI to investigate the news website for possible violation of other laws. (PNA)
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