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| President
Rodrigo Duterte with the press ... his powers to ban Rappler for two
years challenged in court. Image: Freeze frame/David Robie |
Rappler, the innovative online publisher that has been at the media freedom frontline in the Philippines for the past three years, has challenged President Rodrigo Duterte by taking the executive to the Supreme Court.
The news website has called on the court to rule on whether President Duterte – or the state executive branch – has the power to control the media.
It has asked the court to lift a nearly two-year coverage ban against Rappler for covering events involving President Duterte wherever he is in the Philippines or abroad.
READ MORE: The state of the Philippine media under Duterte – PCIJ
In a remarkable media freedom test case, Rappler has asked justices to clarify: Could the President pick and choose who is “legitimate media” and who is not?
It has also asked could Duterte restrict access to public events?
