MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday denied he had a hand in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) decision to revoke the incorporation papers of news website Rappler.

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Speaking on the issue for the first time, Duterte stressed the independence of the regulatory body, whose leadership he said is composed mostly of appointees of the previous administration.

“There are about 5 (SEC commissioners). I only appointed one. So how could it be political? Wala akong pakialam d'yan,” Duterte said in a speech in Pasay City.

“I never had a hand... I do not give a sh*t if you continue or not continue with your network.”

Duterte said the SEC findings on Rappler show that the media entity, known for its critical reporting, does not come “with clean hands” after all.

“He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. They were trying to throw garbage at us… How about you? Are you also clean?” he said.

“Kapag may nasilip sa inyo, you cry harassment. Kalokohan.”

In his speech, Duterte also recalled how the Prieto and Rufino families, owners of broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer who last year announced talks of selling its controlling stake to businessman Ramon Ang, supposedly used their influence to hold on to a government property in Makati and evade taxes.

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“Kung kami ang magmura, masama. Kung kayo ang gumawa ng kalokohan, okay kayo,” the President said.

“In this country, the issue is not press freedom. The issue is abuse of the elite and those in power.”

The SEC has said Rappler "sold control to foreigners" and violated the constitutional restriction on foreign ownership of mass media.

The website management, meanwhile, said Omidyar Network and North Base Media "do not own" the company, even as they hold Philippine Depositary Receipts.

Depositary receipts held by Omidyar stated that its holder “must have prior approval” on changes in Rappler’s articles of incorporation or by-laws, said SEC spokesperson Armand Pan.

Pan insisted that the SEC merely fulfilled its mandate as a corporate securities regulator and did not know of any intention to curtail press freedom.

Rappler’s Maria Ressa has decried the SEC decision, saying it was a form of harassment and, thus, an attack on press freedom.

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SEC chairperson Teresita Herbosa, in a statement, said she would defend the body’s decision “to the hilt.”

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also defended Herbosa against suspicion that she was influenced by the administration into making a decision that could hurt Rappler’s operations, even as the regulatory body scrutinized the news website’s ownership due to an “initial formal request” from Solicitor General Jose Calida, a vocal ally of the President.

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