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Rappler reporter now banned from entering entire Malacañang compound, says exec


Rappler reporter Pia Ranada is now barred from entering the entire Malacañang Complex not just the presidential palace, an official said on Wednesday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary for Media Relations Mia Reyes confirmed in a text message that Ranada could no longer the Malacañang compound starting Thursday.

Ranada also tweeted about the development.

The Malacañang Complex houses the presidential palace several office buildings, Malacañang Park, and Bahay Pagbabago, the official residence of President Rodrigo Duterte.

On Tuesday, presidential guards barred Ranada from entering the New Executive Building, where the press working area and the press briefing room are located.

She was later allowed to attend a news conference by presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. but prohibited from covering the President's speech at the palace before Indian businessmen.

Roque said Duterte had decided to bar Rappler from all presidential coverage.

The order came a day after the Senate summoned Duterte' top aide, Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go, to answer questions following a Rappler report claiming that he had intervened in the selection of the combat management system of the two frigates the Philippine Navy was buying.

Rappler has repeatedly earned the ire of Duterte and other Palace officials over the online news outfit's reports critical of the administration. —NB, GMA News

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