Philippine news website Rappler’s licence revoked after Duterte threat

Four months later the Inquirer announced its owners were in talks to sell the publication. A business tycoon who backed Duterte's 2016 election bid later disclosed he was planning to buy the Inquirer.

Last year Duterte threatened to block ABS-CBN's application to renew its operating franchise, a permit that requires congressional approval.

The mass media watchdog group National Union of Journalists of the Philippines denounced the Rappler ruling.

"It was but one of many threats Duterte has made against media critical of him and his governance, such as the Philippine Daily Inquirer and broadcast network ABS-CBN," the union said in a statement.

"We call on all Filipino journalists to unite and resist every and all attempts to silence us," the group added.

Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros also criticised the Rappler ruling, calling it "pure harassment and a clear attack on press freedom".

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government respected the SEC ruling.

"The Securities and Exchange Commission is empowered to determine the legality of corporations," Roque said in a statement.

He added that Rappler "may wish to exhaust all available remedies until the decision becomes final".