Rappler reporter barred from covering Duterte event in Pasay

Rappler reporter Pia Ranada was prevented from covering the event of President Rodrigo Duterte in Pasay City on Tuesday, weeks after the chief executive himself banned her from entering Malacañang.

In a video uploaded on Rappler’s Facebook page, Ranada said she was told by organizers of the Go Negosyo 10th Filipina Entrepreneurship Summit at World Trade Center that she could not cover the event where Duterte was expected to speak.

"I was told by the Go Negosyo staff at the registration that my name wasn’t ... on the list of the MPC [Malacañang Press Corps] members, and I continue to question the order until the staff from Malacañang, specifically the Media Accreditation and Relations Office, approached me to say that I'm not allowed to enter or to cover the event,” Ranada said.

“And I asked if this order only covered me and apparently it does. It covers only Rappler. It covers only me being the Rappler reporter assigned to Malacañang,” she said.

Am not allowed to enter Go Negosyo event to be attended by #PresidentDuterte. Apparently, Rappler ban now applies to all presidential events. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/2I4aYDSY9b

— Pia Ranada (@piaranada) March 6, 2018

Malacañang has said the ban stemmed from the decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoking Rappler Inc.’s certificate of incorporation last January for supposedly violating the constitutional prohibition on foreign ownership in mass media companies.

Rappler has since challenged the ruling before the Court of Appeals which has not issued a stay order against it.  

The Palace imposed the ban on Rappler after the Senate summoned Duterte’s top aide, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, on February 19 to answer questions following a Rappler report claiming that he intervened in the selection process for the combat management system of two frigates the Philippine Navy was buying.

Rappler has repeatedly earned the ire of Duterte and other Palace officials over what they view as irresponsible reporting. —VDS, GMA News