Worse, the exclusive rights granted by the Comelec Chairman over a Comelec-organized event are now being used to infringe not only upon Rappler’s free press rights, but upon those of our fellow reporters in Cagayan de Oro as well. In fact, all reporters covering this Sunday’s debate have been prohibited by the lead network to even use or locate any recording device within the event area. Ironically, the Comelec Chairman has permitted the lead network to be a de facto censor to ensure its monopoly on the debate content.