Collegiate Press Corps seeks discussion with UAAP officials after reporter initially prevented entry due to shirt promoting different brand from league sponsor

The Collegiate Press Corps, a body of sportswriters covering collegiate leagues such as the UAAP and the NCAA, said they are seeking a discussion with UAAP officials after an ‘unwelcome incident’ involving one of its officers.

In an incident report released on Wednesday night, the sportswriters’ body said one of its officers was initially prevented entry by bouncers to the Mall of Asia Arena, venue of the UAAP volleyball tournament, for wearing a shirt promoting a different brand from the league’s sponsor.

“Fellow Collegiate Press Corps members tried to reason with the bouncers that the officer does not fall under the instituted dress code - one enforced for the UAAP staff and not for independent journalists covering the beat - but their plea fell on deaf ears,” the scribes said in the report.

“The bouncers even mentioned that the branding on the officer's shirt 'might be seen on TV' if he walks around the venue,” it added.

The said writer was eventually let in after the group contacted the league officials to address the incident.

In addition, the sportswriting body said it does not enforce any dress code aside from what is in place in game venues.

According to the Press Corps, UAAP executive director Atty. Rebo Saguisag has already extended its apologies to the said officer and the group for the unwelcome incident. However, the bouncers who stopped the reporter from entering have not yet apologized.

While the body said it has accepted Saguisag’s apology, the scribes are still seeking a discussion with league officials to avoid such incident in the future, on top of other guidelines for the media. The Press Corps said it hopes that the incident won’t happen in the future.

“It's an unwelcome incident that we hope won't be repeated, especially as we consider everyone from the league officials to the security officers as partners in delivering the optimal fan experience for the leagues we cover through our different mediums.”

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News