Duterte insinuates 'American ownership' of Rappler

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte during his second State of the Nation Address (Sona) claimed that a local news organization is "owned" by Americans.

The 1987 Constitution states that "the ownership of mass media shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines."

"You know when you're a newspaper you are supposed to be 100 percent Filipino and yet when you start to pierce their identity, it is pala fully owned by Americans. Rappler kayo ba 'yan?" Duterte said.

He even challenged people to look into Rappler's papers and find out for themselves that it is allegedly owned by Americans.

"Rappler. Try to pierce the identity and you'll end up [seeing] American ownerships," he added.

Duterte has earlier accused some media organizations of bias, most of which targeted to broadcast giant Abs-CbN, newspaper Philippine Daily Inquirer, and online multimedia news website Rappler.

This is the first time the President cited Rappler's alleged foreign ownership. However, a die-hard Duterte supporter and blogger RJ Nieto previously published an allegation pertaining to the website's incorporators.

In their defense, Rappler has reiterated that foreigners only invest and pour in money but do not get any ownership or voting rights to the board. (SunStar Philippines)

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