Senators question Palace ban on Rappler reporter

Senators on Tuesday questioned Malacañang's decision to ban Rappler reporter Pia Ranada from covering President Rodrigo Duterte's events at the Palace.

Senator Grace Poe said Malacañang should explain its move against the news outfit perceived as criticial of the Duterte administration.

“It might send a wrong message to our countrymen that there are certain freedoms that might be compromised but I wouldn’t speak that soon," Poe said.

"We need to find out the reason behind it and I think they owe us an explanation on the rationale behind the decision,” she added.

Poe said Malacañang should clarify if the recent Securities and Exchange Commission ruling on Rappler having foreign investors had anything to do revoking the registration of Rappler, the Palace should clarify it.

“Ang nakalagay sa Konstitusyon na ang media companies ay dapat na Filipino-owned, ngayon gagamitin ba nila ang teknikalidad na yan e minsan nag-iimbita naman tayo ng foreign press na magcover ng ating statements. Siguro iisplika mabuti ng Malacanang ‘yung timing din ng paglalabas na ‘yun,” Poe said.

“Maaaring technically they can justify it but syempre hindi mo maalis sa atin na isipin na meron pa bang ibang dahilan kung bakit  nangyari,” she added.

She said Malacanang decision could have a chilling effect on media entities.

“Kapag nagkakaroon ng desisyon na ganyan, maaring ang iba ay maalarma na ito ba ay dahil binabawasan ang ating kalayaan na malaman ang katotohanan at maghayag,” she said.

She said she believed Malacañang does not want public to think that it is preventing those guarding the country’s democracy.

“Sa tingin ko naman ay ayaw din ng Malacañang na magkaroon ng pagdududa ang ating mga kababayan na pinipigilan ang pagbabantay ng ating demokrasya na trabaho ng  media so hintayin natin ang paliwanag,” she said.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said banning Rappler from Malacanang is clearly a harassment to the media.

“It’s very evident na hinaharass na ang media, basta’t tinatamaan mo siya at nagiging critical sa kanila e iipitin ka para hindi lang magtanda ang kung sino man yun, kundi para doon sa ibang media outfits magkaroon ng chilling effect,” he said in a separate interview.

“So, I’m very worried about the gradual destruction of the democratic institutions in our country and ito na ito, creeping dictatorship na ito. Pagka nasanay na tayo diyan, hindi tayo nagreklamo diyan, tutuloy at tutuloy niya yan,” he added.

He said journalists must unite and boycott Malacanang press briefings to send a message that they would not be pushed around.

“ Kaya sa akin sana magkaisa ang journalists para iprotesta ito. If it means boycotting ‘yung mga Malacañang press briefings, gawin to send the message na solid kayo dito at hindi matutulak,” he said.

“Kasi pag hinayaan si Pia Ranada ng ganun, it can be done to anybody. Susubok at susubukan. So ang gagawin ngayon, to avoid that inconvenience, babaitan mo storya mo, papaboran mo sa kanila. Pagka nangyari yun tapos na ang demokrasya natin,” he added.

He further said the SEC decision on Rappler is not yet final and executory.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, Liberal Partypresident, said Malacanang's move against its media critics could be perceived as curtailment of press freedom, which was prevalent during the Martial Law era.

"Sa ginagawang ito ng Palasyo, bumabalik ang madilim na alaala ng Martial Law kung kailan binusalan ang media at pinigilan ang malayang pamamahayag (This Malacanang action recalls the dark memories of Martial Law when media was silenced and freedom of the press was curtailed),” he said in a press statement.

Senator Bam Aquino said empowered journalists are crucial in the fight against disinformation and fake news.

“Malacanang must learn to respect dissenting views. Tama na ang pananakot sa mga hindi sumasang-ayon sa administrasyon,” he said in the same press statement. —NB, GMA News