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BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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Wednesday, February 21, 2018
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MANILA – A reporter for the news website Rappler was barred from entering Malacañang premises on Tuesday.
Pia Ranada-Robles said a Presidential Security Group (PSG) officer told her she could not enter the Palace grounds and cover events involving President Rodrigo Duterte.
This happened a day after Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go claimed in a Senate inquiry that the issues on the Philippine Navy frigate deal that he was tagged to came about because of “irresponsible reporting.”
Rappler and the Philippine Daily Inquirer were among the first to report on the allegation that Go intervened in the frigate acquisition project.
Go asked the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media to invite Rappler and the Inquirer to its next inquiry into “fake news.”
“’Yong PSG sinabi sa akin na ’di raw ako pwedeng pumasok today,” Robles told fellow reporters. “Tapos pinakita ko ang [identification card] ko, tapos sinabi niya, ‘Ah ’di po kayo pwede pumasok today talaga.’”
Rappler is a member of the Malacañang Press Corps.
“Tinanong ko, ‘Is the instructions [sic] just for me?’ Sabi niya, ‘Opo, sa inyo lang po.’ Tapos tinanong ko, ‘Saan po galing ang order?’ Sabi niya, ‘Galing sa taas.’ Wala siyang sinabing pangalan,” said Robles.
She added: “Tapos I asked ‘When?’ Sabi niya (PSG officer), ‘This morning, ngayong umaga lang.’”
After calling the Media Accreditation and Relations Office (MARO), Robles said she was eventually allowed to enter the New Executive Building, where regular press briefings were being held.
“I was pressing him (PSG officer) who gave the instructions,” said Robles. “A few minutes after, tumawag na siya and saying na iyong new instruction is na bawal lang ako sa Malacañang itself pero pwede daw ako sa New Executive Building. So, doon sa Press Working Area.”
“Before that, I had already called the MARO, iyong Usec (undersecretary) natin for media relations. I didn’t know if tinawagan siya about it kaya nagbago ang order,” she added.
The Palace clarified that Rappler may still cover the President pending its appeal with the Court of Appeals on the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) decision to revoke its license.
The SEC said Rappler violated the Foreign Equity Restrictions in Mass Media for allowing a foreign investor to have control over the company.
“The Executive Secretary just issued a verbal statement that, pending appeal, you (Ranada) will be able to cover Malacañang,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told a press briefing.
“And, having said that, the worst-case scenario, even if you are barred, is you can cover the press briefings because we are televised live,” Roque said.
Roque added: “You are still allowed until the appeal is resolved by the Court of Appeals. If it is sustained, then you will have to move to FOCAP, which is the media group for foreign correspondents, because the decision of the SEC you are foreign-controlled.”
FOCAP means Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.
Ranada has been covering Duterte since the presidential campaign in 2016. She is known for asking critical questions during briefings and interviews./PN
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