PSG: Palace guard didn’t hurt Rappler reporter despite ‘insult’

Members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) bar Rappler reporter Pia Ranada from entering the New Executive Building (NEB) in Malacañang where the press office for the Malacañang Press Corps is located. INQUIRER.NET / NESTOR CORRALES

Rappler reporter Pia Ranada should be thankful that the Presidential Security Group (PSG) officer who stopped her at the Malacañang gate did not hurt her despite her “insulting” behavior, Brigadier General Lope Dagoy said.

Ranada, on Tuesday morning, was barred from entering Malacañang by PSG personnel Corporal Marc Anthony Cempron who was stationed at Gate 2.

Cempron said there was an instruction from the “higher ups” that she would no longer be allowed to enter the Palace premises.

Ranada together with another reporter persistently asked Cempron why she was being barred from entering Malacañang but Cempron only said it was an order from “higher ups,” which he was not able to identify.

“Bakit kailangan bastusin yung sundalo ko? Subo-subo ‘ninyo  ‘yung mic para makuha ‘nyo ‘yung information with camera pa, with cellphone,” Dagoy said in the interview with Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson.

Dagoy said it was “very unfortunate to witness that incident specifically by Pia Ranada of Rappler.”

“Ang hindi ko lang nagustuhan sa ginawa ni Pia at ng ABS-CBN [reporter], bakit kailangan nilang ipagtutulak-tulakan ng mic ang aking sundalo na sinabi naman sa kanila na wala akong masabi sa inyo kung ano man yung gusto n’yong matanong except na ban kayo sa Malacanang,” he said.

“Parang dinuduro-duro na ninyo ang sundalo ko,” he added.

Dagoy said Ranada should be thankful that the PSG officer did not hurt her.

“Huwag ninyo ganunin. Sumusunod lang sa orders ‘yan. Mabuti nga di kayo sinaktan. Pasalamat kayo hindi kayo sinaktan sa pagbabastos na ginawa ‘nyo. Pambabastos ‘yun,” he said.

“Next time na mangyari sa sundalo ko ‘yan, I will ban you from the whole Malacanang complex,” he added.

Ranada was held at the gate 2 of Malacanang on Tuesday morning for at least 10 minutes before she was allowed to pass through after clarification of the order to bar her.  /cbb