Duterte himself banned Rappler from Palace, reporter says

President Rodrigo Duterte himself banned Rappler reporter Pia Rañada from Malacañang.

Rañada said Jhopee Avanceña, the head of Malacañang's Internal House Affairs Office, told her so in a text message.

"He said you are not allowed inside. That's it. Not only today," Avanceña's message read.

The instruction from the President reportedly came on Monday night.

A member of the Presidential Security Group told Ranada she was allowed to go inside the New Executive Building compound but not at the Palace.

The PSG’s Marc Anthony Cempron did not say who issued the order to disallow Ranada from covering Palace events.

The Palace briefing room and the press working area are at the NEB. —NB, GMA News