CAGAYAN de Oro Rappler correspondent Bobby Lagsa was ordered to leave the premises of the University of Science and Technology in Southern Philippines (USTP) where the rally of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan was held.
Lagsa said he was doing interviews outside the venue of the political sortie, the USTP gymnasium, but was still told to leave and escorted by staff of the Media Accreditation and Relations Office (Maro).
He said the staff told him to leave “para di na tayo magkahiyaan (in order not to cause embarrassment).”
Lagsa tried to get accredited through the City Information Office, but, through orders from Maro, he was denied to cover the event.
While this is not the first time that he was barred to cover in events where President Rodrigo Duterte is present, Lagsa maintained that the incident was a “violation of his right as a journalist to cover.”
“The public has the right to know and express their opinion on events such as a senatorial campaign in which the President himself attended to promote his bets,” Lagsa said.
“Journalism is not a crime and by denying a journalist to perform their duty, they denied the rights of the public to know,” he added.
Rappler has earned the ire of the tough-talking President for allegedly being biased. Rappler is known for stories critical of this administration.
Last year, Duterte first ordered Rappler Chief Executive Officer Maria Ressa and reporter Pia Ranada be barred from Malacañang and from all his events and activities.
This order later covered all Rappler reporters and correspondents all throughout the country.