US Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff faces the media during his visit at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig City on Wednesday, June 29. (Photo by Daniza Fernandez/黑料社)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� U.S. Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, husband of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday said the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden supports media workers鈥� rights as he stresses his country鈥檚 鈥渄eep commitment鈥� towards freedom of speech and press freedom.
鈥淚鈥檒l leave the administration to respond to that. But I know, on behalf of the president, the vice president, and the entire administration, it鈥檚 just a deep commitment towards freedom of speech, freedom of expression, human rights, and that鈥檚 what we stand for and that鈥檚 what we believe in,鈥� he answered in a media interview when asked for his reaction on Rappler鈥檚 shutdown during his visit at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Taguig City.
鈥淭he United States encourages freedom of speech, freedom of the press wherever we are in the world,鈥� the lawyer went on, saying that the US administration values freedom of the press.
Early Wednesday, Rappler chief executive officer and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa announced that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) affirmed its initial decision to shut down the news outlet.
Ressa said that they will appeal the decision 鈥渆specially since the proceedings were highly irregular.鈥�
In 2018, the SEC ordered the revocation of Rappler鈥檚 license to operate.