MANILA -- Philippine authorities widened their crackdown Wednesday against Rappler, a startup news website critical of President Rodrigo Duterte, and its chief executive said the embattled media organization is prepared to fight the government head-on.
The Justice Department ordered a probe against Rappler involving possible illegal and unconstitutional acts that could lead to the news organization facing criminal charges. Also Wednesday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Rappler could be reclassified as bloggers when covering Duterte.
