Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has described as “uncalled for” and “off the mark” the remarks of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) commander, who said that Rappler reporter Pia Ranada should “be thankful” that she was not hurt by a PSG officer who stopped her from entering Malacañang grounds on Tuesday.
“That remark is uncalled for and really off the mark. Whatever the Rappler’s offense the PSG had no right to harm Rappler’s people nor threaten them,” Lorenzana told reporters in a text message.
INQUIRER.net has tried to reach PSG Commander Brig. Gen. Lope Dagoy for comment on Lorenzana’s statement, but has yet to receive a response as of this posting.
On Tuesday morning, Ranada was briefly barred from entering Malacañang by PSG personnel, Cpl. Marc Anthony Cempron, who was stationed at the Gate 2 of the Malacañang complex. Gate 2 is the entry to the New Executive Building (NEB) where the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) is holding office. Ranada is a member of the MPC.
Cempron said there was an instruction from the “higher ups” that Ranada should no longer be allowed to enter the Palace premises.
Ranada together with another reporter persistently asked Cempron why she was barred from entering Malacañang but Cempron only said it was an order from “higher ups,” which he was not able to identify.
Dagoy said on Tuesday that the behavior of Ranada was “insulting” to the PSG on duty and the reporter should be thankful she was not hurt by the PSG personnel.
“Bakit kailangan bastusin ‘yung sundalo ko? Subo-subo ninyo ‘yung mic para makuha n’yo ‘yung information with camera pa, with cellphone,” Dagoy said in an interview with Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson.
“Huwag ninyo ganunin, sumusunod sa orders lang ‘yan. Mabuti nga ‘di kayo sinaktan. Pasalamat kayo hindi kayo sinaktan sa pagbabastos na ginawa n’yo. Pambabastos ‘yun,” Dagoy also said. /kga