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Rappler sues Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista over presidential debate coverage

Unknown 3:47 AM Andres , Bautista , Chairman , Comelec , coverage , debate , over , Presidential , Rappler , sues

<ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Social news network Rappler files petition with the Supreme Court against Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> The petition seeks to nullify the MOA signed between “lead networks” and the Comelec chairman</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Rappler says discriminating against them is a violation of their constitutional right to equal protection and a restraint of their press freedom</li> </ul>MANILA – Social news network <a href="http://www.rappler.com/views/123020-rappler-sues-comelec-chief-sc-debates">Rappler</a> recently filed a petition with the Supreme Court (SC) asking it to intervene to allow millions of Filipinos to watch the upcoming presidential debate on their phones, tablets and computers. The petition for Certiorari and Prohibition with Prayer for Preliminary Mandatory Injunction under Rule 65 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure was filed on Friday, February 19, against Andres Bautista in his capacity as the chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). According to a copy of the petition posted on <a href="http://www.rappler.com/views/123020-rappler-sues-comelec-chief-sc-debates">Rappler</a>, the petition seeks to nullify pertinent parts of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) executed between the Comelec Chairman and various media networks (ABS-CBN, GMA Network, Inc., TV5 Network, Inc., and Nine Media Corporation) signed on January 13, 2016 for being executed without or in excess of jurisdiction or with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction and for violating the fundamental rights of Rappler, Inc. protected under the Constitution; and to prohibit Comelec from enforcing the provisions of the MOA. According to Rappler’s article regarding their suit before the SC, the network filed the petition because the decision of Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista “to grant broadcast rights to the upcoming presidential and vice presidential debates only to the nation’s biggest commercial television companies and their chosen partners is out of touch with reality.” Rappler claims that “instead of ensuring a wider distribution of the debate, the Comelec Chairman granted exclusive broadcasting and live-streaming rights to hand-picked partners – to the detriment of all other media outlets, including the government-owned PTV4.” The social news network contends that their constitutional right to equal protection has been violated and that discriminating against their network is a restraint on their free press rights. Rappler added that “(a)ll of these betray the Comelec’s mission to educate the general public on matters that affect the choices they will make in May.” The network also claims that the Comelec Chairman may have violated the Anti-Graft Law because the benefits and advantages given to these “lead networks” are unwarranted and were granted without the benefit of any transparent or equitable process such as a public bidding. Rappler further explained that the suit was brought exclusively against the chairman of the Comelec because it appears that he acted without the support of the other Commissioners. It was stated by a story on <a href="http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/02/21/1554415/live-updates-presidential-debate-mindanao">Philstar</a> that the first round of the debates initiated by Comelec among presidential candidates Grace Poe, Rodrigo Duterte, Jejomar Binay, Miriam Defensor Santiago and Mar Roxas is set on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016 in Cagayan De Oro. According to an article written by Tina G. Santos and published by  <a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/755200/inquirer-gma-7-to-host-first-presidential-debate">Inquirer</a>, GMA 7 with its election partner, Inquirer, will host the first ever presidential debate in the Philippines’ history. <a href="http://kickerdaily.com/rappler-sues-comelec-chairman-andres-bautista-presidential-debate-coverage/" rel="nofollow">Kicker Daily News</a>

Social news network Rappler files petition with the Supreme Court against Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista The petition seeks to nullify th...