THE ALLIANCE of Concerned Teachers slammed the Securities and Exchange Commission for its order shutting down online news organization Rappler.

“This is highly condemnable and again an infringement of the freedom of the press,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s chairperson, said.

“It seems that the Duterte administration’s agents are working double time to shut down media outlets that are critical of its policies and we hope that this is not the prelude to the incoming Marcos administration,” he added.

“First, they attacked and shut down ABS-CBN. Then they shut down the websites of Bulatlat.com and PinoyWeekly. Now they are trying to shut down Rappler. They are truly targeting media outlets that ask the hard questions and does not kowtow to the administration line. What is very dangerous though is that in doing so, the forces of disinformation and tyranny would grow more emboldened,” Quetua said.

The group is set to join a protest on the inauguration of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on June 30, 2022.

“It is imperative to conduct protest actions because there are numerous issues confronting our country and one of the most glaring ones is that of the education crisis,” Quetua said.

The ACT leader said the group will raise the call to increase the salaries of teachers during the protest rally.

“While the police salaries were already doubled, teachers are still fighting for theirs. That is why we are discouraging the police from disrupting the protest and stifle our right to protest. Their duty is to protect the people who are exercising their rights and not to harass or arrest them,” he added.