The Philippine Supreme Court has definitively ended proceedings seeking to shut down Rappler, an independent news outlet and client of Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF), by upholding earlier rulings that dismissed allegations of illegal foreign ownership. The original case, initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2017, alleged that Rappler violated constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership of media through the issuance of Philippine Depository Receipts (PDRs) to a US-based investor.
The development marks a significant victory for press freedom in the Philippines, ending sustained efforts by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revoke Rappler’s license and force its closure. Legal observers note that the Supreme Court’s action, while procedural in nature, affirms earlier findings that the case against Rappler lacked merit and raised serious concerns about due process and regulatory overreach.
The case dates back to 2017, when the SEC alleged that Rappler violated constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership through the issuance of Philippine Depository Receipts (PDRs) to a US-based philanthropic investor. In 2018, the SEC revoked Rappler’s certificate of incorporation, though this was later suspended pending appeal. In 2022, the SEC reaffirmed its decision despite changes to the ownership structure. However, in July 2024, the Court of Appeals overturned the order, ruling that Rappler remained fully Filipino-owned and that no illegality had been found. The court also criticised the SEC for violating due process and acting with bias. A subsequent challenge by the SEC was rejected in July 2025, with the court warning that such actions posed a threat to press freedom.
With the Solicitor General’s withdrawal of its final challenge, the proceedings have now been conclusively terminated, closing a chapter widely viewed as emblematic of broader pressures on independent media.
Despite this outcome, Rappler’s founder, Nobel laureate Maria Ressa, continues to face multiple legal proceedings. These include a standing conviction for cyberlibel, currently under appeal before the Supreme Court, as well as separate tax-related cases linked to allegations that have now been undermined by the courts’ findings in the ownership dispute.
For more details on the background of the case and Ressa’s ongoing legal challenges, read the following article published by her legal representatives: https://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/news/philippine-supreme-court-closes-case-seeking-shut-down-maria-ressas-news-organisation-rappler