Rappler demands apology from PSG commander over remarks vs. reporter

Online news outfit Rappler on Wednesday demanded an apology from Presidential Security Group (PSG) chief Brigadier General Lope Dagoy for threatening its Palace reporter Pia Ranada and accusing her of "bullying" a PSG member with questions. 

“Dagoy’s statement is conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman, coming as it did from a soldier who took his oath to defend civilians, who stands closest to the seat of power, and who serves an organization that has shown, time and again, its respect for and appreciation of civilian institutions such as Rappler,”  the news organization said in a statement.

“We ask General Dagoy to apologize for his outburst or for his superiors to take him to task for threatening to use force outside the battlefield,” it added.

On Tuesday, Ranada was initially stopped by a PSG member Corporal Marc Anthony Cempron from entering the Palace grounds for a press briefing.

This was one day after Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go lambasted Rappler for publishing what he called a "malicious" report insisting he intervened in the controversial Philippine Navy frigate deal.

In its statement, Rappler brought up Dagoy's interview with Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson on Tuesday wherein the PSG commander "accused" her of bullying Cempron.

"He based his assessment on Ranada's repeated questions as to why she was not allowed entry, when she was a member of the Malacañang Press Corps," said the news site.

Moreover, Dagoy texted Ranada on Wednesday saying: "It was good that my soldier did not hit you when you were bullying him."

Dagoy had been called out by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana who said he had no right to harm to harm the media organization nor threaten its people.

"That remark is uncalled for and really off the mark. Whatever the Rappler’s offense the PSG had no right to harm Rappler’s people nor threaten them," Lorenzana said in an interview with Uson. —NB, GMA News