FOCAP: Members can cover Duterte's daily activities

Members of a group of foreign media outlets condemned the ban imposed on Rappler journalists as they underscored that their members are accredited to cover the daily activities of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) issued a statement on on Wednesday said the move is a "blatant attack on freedom of the press, a right guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution and the United Nations."

The FOCAP is a group of journalists working for foreign news agencies covering political and socioeconomic developments in the Philippines.

The group explained that their members are issued accreditation identification cards and can therefore cover President Rodrigo Duterte's daily activities.

"The International Press Center, a unit under the Presidential Communications Operations Office, issues accreditation identification (ID) cards every year. This has been the practice since 1986 when dictator Ferdinand Marcos was removed from power. FOCAP journalists are therefore accredited to cover the president’s official day-to-day activities, like the members of the Malacañang Press Corps," the group said.

The journalists pointed out that, "The restriction, which came after Rappler reported about a senior presidential aide dragged into a navy frigate deal, is disturbing."

The group was referring to Rappler's story on Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go's alleged link to a controversial Philippine Navy frigate deal.

Go criticized the online news website's story as he denied his involvement in the said deal.

The FOCAP also condemns "threats of physical harm to journalists, specially coming from state forces whose mandate is to protect civilians."

Presidential Security Group chief Brigadier General Lope Dagoy threatened Rappler reporter Pia Ranada and accused her of bullying a PSG member on Tuesday when she was initially prevented from entering the New Executive Building, where the press working area is located.

Rappler had demanded an apology from Dagoy, who rejected the call.

The online news website, however, was backed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana who said Dagoy had no right to threaten the media organization or its members.

FOCAP issued the statement after Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Rappler may cover the activities of President Duterte as members of the foreign press contingent so they can be allowed to cover on event basis only.

Last month, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoked Rappler’s certificate of incorporation for supposedly violating the constitutional prohibition on foreign ownership of mass media.

Rappler has since asked the Court of Appeals to nullify the SEC decision. — Margaret Claire Layug/BAP, GMA News