Everybody Suffers From The Dictator With A Grievance

Michael Hedges June 29, 2022 - Follow on Twitter

Given time and observation certain traits of authoritarian rulers are clarified. It is no longer sufficient to simply write them off as crazy or crooks, though both terms may apply. We now look at grievance and resentment, usually something quite deep. Those afflicted are very sensitive to criticism. They like to hurt people and like to watch.

An order to close news outlet Rappler was published (this week (June 28) by the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Various government agencies have hammered Rappler and its co-founder Maria Ressa for years. Still, the persevering publication and its team managed to report the daily news along with biting investigations. The order came one day before Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte leaves office, replaced by Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Jr, son of the notorious previous dictator who persecuted journalists and political opponents for decades.

The order, first issued in 2018, cancels “certificates of incorporation” for Rappler Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corporation, principal owner of the online site, citing Philippine “constitutional and statutory restrictions on foreign ownership in mass media.” Many governments restrict foreign ownership of media outlets, typically licensed broadcasters, to minority holdings. Ownership restrictions on publishers is mixed; some governments require licensing of printing plants. The digital era has sent all regulators into a tizzy to find political solutions for the wild web.

Independent media outlets threatened by coercive regulations found aid from a small but wealthy group of media development specialists. Ms Ressa and Rappler found philanthropist Pierre Omidyar, billionaire founder of e-commerce giant eBay, who established Omidyar Network, now known as Luminate. For Rappler Omidyar Network purchased Philippine depositary receipts in 2015, a specialized passive financial instrument. Then, three years later, ownership of the depositary receipts were donated to Rappler employees. Philippine authorities continue to maintain that Omidyar, illegally, had legal ownership of Rappler. The publisher disagreed.

Since Mr. Duterte’s arrival as Philippine president endless civil and criminal complaints have been lodged against Rappler and Ms Ressa. Media freedom advocates concur that these were retaliation for investigations beginning with his notoriously violent war on drug users. Investigations published by Rappler showed police agents regularly rounding up and shooting dead innocent civilians. Mr. Duterte’s public pronouncements have been peppered with calls to violence, even against other heads of state. Despite regular calls to punish corruption the Duterte reign has enriched the privileged. Corruption monitor Transparency International ranked the country 117th in its 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index, worst in a decade, tied with Algeria, Egypt, Nepal and Zambia.

Noting the coincidence of Mr. Duterte’s final hours and the SEC order, Ms Ressa said it is “not a good sign,” after giving the keynote address to the East-West Center's International Media Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii, quoted by Axios (June 28). "Who knows what the new administration will do. If the rule of law wins, these cases will be thrown out. We’re not shutting down. Well, I’m not supposed to say that. We are entitled to appeal this decision and will do so, especially since the proceedings were highly irregular.” Rappler was founded in 2012.

Ms Ressa was honored last October with the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for press/media freedom efforts. Russian editor/publisher Dmitry Muratov shared the honors. Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) ranked the Philippines 147th in its 2022 Global Press Freedom Index, between Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. A Philippines government spokesperson, quoted by the official Philippines News Agency (May 4), said the new RSF rankings prove “Philippine media are extremely vibrant.”

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