The Supreme Court has officially closed the legal battle against digital news outlet Rappler, including the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) shutdown order, in a ruling dated January 20, 2026.
“The Court further…declares this case closed and terminated and the parties informed accordingly,” the decision stated.
The resolution came after the Office of the Solicitor General, led by Darlene Marie Bernabe—who also represented the SEC—withdrew its request for additional time to challenge the Court of Appeals’ earlier ruling that had voided the government’s shutdown order against Rappler.
Rappler had been among the media organizations targeted during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, facing several legal cases that critics described as politically motivated.
With the Supreme Court’s ruling, the long-running dispute has been formally terminated, effectively clearing Rappler of the SEC shutdown order and related cases.