Trillanes slams order to bar reporter from covering Malacañang

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday condemned President Rodrigo’s order to bar Rappler reporter Pia Ranada from entering and covering Malacañang, branding it as a “political vendetta” to “send a chilling message” to other reporters.

Trillanes, during his privilege speech at the Senate plenary, likened the “attack” against Ranada to the “injustice” against detained Senator Leila de Lima.

“Kinukundena ko ang utos na to. Gaya ng ginawa kay Sen. De Lima, ako ay naniniwala na ginawa ito para lamang balikan ang Rappler para sa ilang artikulo nito na, sa pananaw ng Malacañang, ay hindi paborable sa kanila. Mali ito. Paglabag ito sa ating Constitution, particularly the Bill of Rights that guaranteed press freedom,” he said.

(I condemn this order. Like what was done to Sen. De Lima, I believe this was done to get back at Rappler for some articles that, to the view of Malacañang, were not favorable to them. This is wrong. This is a violation of the Constitution, particularly the Bill of Rights that guaranteed press freedom.”

Trillanes said this all started when Solicitor General Jose Calida sent a letter to the securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate online news site Rappler in December 2016.

This, he said, later resulted to SEC’s revocation of Rappler’s license to operate.

“Lahat ito ay ginagawa ni Duterte out of political vendetta and to send a chilling message to other reporters and media outfits that they should tow Malacañang’s propaganda line or else,” he said.

The opposition senator also urged Senate to protect press freedom in the country, “as this is one of the pillars of our fragile democracy.”/au