By Genalyn Kabiling
Online news entity Rappler will no longer be allowed to enter Malacañang and cover President Duterte's activities until it resolves its issues with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), according to a Palace official.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque (left); Rappler reporter Pia Ranada (right)
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said Rappler lost its Palace accreditation after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoked its license to operate over foreign ownership.
"There was already an SEC decision saying revoking their license, ang accreditation ni Pia is from that particular accreditation so nawala rin ang kanyang accreditation in effect ," Medialdea said in a media interview at the Palace.
"Ayusin muna nila ang kanilang personality as a corporation, local corporation otherwise they cannot," he added when asked if Rappler can still cover the Palace events.
When asked if President Duterte had ordered the ban on Rappler in Malacañang, Medialdea said Duterte was merely following the SEC decision, which he claimed was "executory."
He said Rappler could still cover the Palace if they get credentials from the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP). Rappler is a member of the Malacañang Press Corps, a group of journalists from various local media companies that regularly cover the President’s activities and other Palace events.