The National Press Club opposes the partnership between the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the online news website Rappler.
COMELEC entered into a memorandum of agreement with Rappler on Thursday, February 24, in order to helo fight disinformation in relation to the upcoming 2022 polls.
Under the said agreement, Rappler commits its resources to help COMELEC disseminate helpfully and engage the public both online and offline.
Paul Gutierrez, president of the National Press Club, said on Tuesday, March 1, that the group opposes the partnership between Rappler and COMELEC due to the 'spotty record' of the news organization.
"Hindi naman kagandahan yung record ng Rappler pagdating sa usapin ng pagbibigay ng mga makatotohanang impormasyon at balita," Gutierrez said during DZRH's Dos Por Dos.
"Bistado na ng sambayanang Pilipino na hindi credible at parehas itong Rappler," he added.
Gutierrez also mentioned that the Securities and Exchange Commission revoked the business registration of Rappler in 2018 for violating the Constitutional requirement for mass media entities to be 100 percent Filipino-owned.
"Given the record and the reputation of Rappler, being a foreign-owned and not being known to be a fair and objective media entity, malaki ang banta nito sa kredibilidad ng halalan," Gutierrez stressed.
In a statement, the Office of the Solicitor General also urged COMELEC the rescind the MOA between the poll body and Rappler.
If COMELEC will not rescind the MOA by Friday, March 4, Solicitor General Jose Calida threatened to file a case in court to declare the nullity of the partnership between the poll body and Rappler.
DZRH attempted to get a statement from Rappler regarding the issue but no one was available to comment.
