Palace accuses Rappler chief of playing ‘victim card’

By Prince Golez

Malacañang has accused Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa of “playing the victim card” in her recent comment about the closure of ABS-CBN after a House panel denied its bid for a broadcast franchise.

“It is very evident that Maria Ressa is playing the victim card by talking about the non-renewal of the broadcast franchise of ABS-CBN after filing her ‘not guilty’ plea before a local court,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement on July 22.

Early Wednesday, Ressa, a veteran journalist and staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, pleaded not guilty to a tax evasion charge before Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 157.

She was quoted as saying: “What happened to ABS-CBN can happen to all of us. Journalists, we have to hold power to account… We need to continue to demand accountability.”

But, Roque insisted that there was no truth to Ressa’s allegation, saying that the administration continues to respect press freedom.

“ABS-CBN, Rappler, and other news entities continue to report on the events happening in the country. A good case in point is the ABS-CBN News coverage of the ‘not guilty’ plea of Maria Ressa, which can be read online,” the Palace official said.

“The press can keep on reporting as long as there is no violation and has the right to continue its operations,” he also said.

Roque reiterated that Congress has the exclusive authority to grant or revoke a broadcast franchise.

“We have maintained a neutral stance on the issue as part of our courtesy and respect to a separate co-equal branch of the government.”

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)