The day before his term ends, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's government ordered the closure of investigative website, Rappler. The site was founded by Filipino journalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, a critical player in exposing former-president Rodrigo Duterte’s human rights abuses during the drug war. Rappler’s reporting has been on government members and Duterte’s inner circle’s radar - the company has been banned from attending presidential events since 2018.
“When you give up your rights, you never get it back” says Marina Ressa when the Philippine gov’t ordered the investigative website Rappler to shut down.
Rappler’s staff are on high alert, as the country moves from a Duarte to a Marcos presidency. Rappler’s impact goes beyond its own interests, independent news sites will take cues from Rappler as to how to safeguard freedom of expression in the Philippines.
Voiceover Stephanie Tangkilisan
Producer Joy Jihyun Jeong, Stephanie Tangkilisan
Associate Producer Ella Chi
Editor Emily Ma
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