A blatant attack to independent journalism and freedom of the press, I denounce the order of no less than the Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to totally ban Rappler Palace reporter and accredited Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) member Pia Ranada to enter the entire Malacañang Complex as a form to adhere to the ruling of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoking Rappler's business registration.
The Palace key officials have been giving different reasons on why did the President ordered such ban to Rappler. According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, President Duterte got irritated to the online news and media organization after it watched the Senate hearing on their report about the frigate deal of Philippine Navy which was been intervened by Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go. It was tagged by Malacañang as 'fake news' after the said hearing. But according to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, the President was just following the decision of SEC to revoke the business registration of Rappler so its MPC accreditation has been ceased accordingly.
Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque and Rappler Palace reporter Pia Ranada during the latter's last Malacañang Press Briefing before the President totally banned her from entering Malacañang Complex. Photo courtesy of Manila Bulletin and PCOO.
Whatever the President's reason, he must first take note that the SEC decision is NOT YET FINAL AND EXECUTORY as it is yet to be decided by the Court on Appeals (CA). So Rappler must not be banned from attending Malacañang Press Briefing and covering Malacañang events as they need to wait for the CA decision before taking some proper actions.
The SEC decision against Rappler revoking its Certificate of Incorporation for violating the Foreign Equity Restriction of the Constitution. Screenshot from the uploaded document at SEC website.
In other words, the President's order to ban Rappler's Palace reporter and Malacañang Press Corps member Pia Ranada from entering Malacañang complex is a purely political vengeance since they have been publishing unsavory articles against the present administration, the Bong Go intervention being the last.
That's why I stand with some other journalists and news organizations around the world to denounce the President's action against Rappler.
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