Duterte is flanked by his security aides and people as he walks toward the Atrium. (photo by joey nacalaban)
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By CONG B. CORRALES
Associate Editor
and JOEY NACALABAN, Correspondent .

JUST when you thought the rift between the President and Rappler is over, the former’s Media Accreditation and Relations Office (Maro) barred the news media organization’s correspondent here from covering the presidential visit in the city yesterday.

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Rappler correspondent Bobby Lagsa said he applied for a media pass on Saturday to cover yesterday’s event.

He claimed that on Saturday, a staff of the Philippine Information Agency-10 merely laughed off his application, and in jest, he was told he would not be allowed to cover.

“Siguro, naa’y Maro nakakita sa listahan sa local media,” posited Lagsa.

Lagsa said his suspicion was confirmed when he received a call from PIA-10’s Jam Rucat at 8 am yesterday who “regretfully” informed him that he was not allowed to cover the event.

“She informed me that I am not allowed to cover today’s (Monday’s) event kay naay mando sa taas,” Lagsa said.

This paper’s calls and text message to PIA-10’s Rucat were not returned.

For his part, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines chairman Jaime “Nonoy” Espina said they expected the ban on Rappler reporters.

“The ban on Rappler is petty but is not totally unexpected of a leader who has proven himself utterly incapable (of) tolerating criticism or dissent,” Espina said.

He added that the President can ban reporters all he wants but this would “never stop enterprising journalists from doing their jobs.”

President Duterte was in the city yesterday to grace the Department of Interior and Local Government-event led presidential dialogue with the newly elected barangay officials of northern Mindanao.

The Maro, which is under the purview of the PIA, is created based on Executive Order 335 issued by the then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2014.

The rift between Duterte and Rappler started when the President issued an order to his officials to bar Rappler reporter Pia Ranada from entering Malacañang and cover his events earlier this year.

The animosity stems from Rappler’s news stories on Duterte’s right-hand man Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go’s alleged involvement in a warship equipment deal.

Meanwhile, a number of journalists were denied entry to the Limketkai mall’s Atrium where Duterte was scheduled to speak yesterday. Reason: organizers were strict on the dress code.

At least 10 reporters from Ozamiz City alone were barred from the Atrium because they were either wearing rubber shoes or they were informally dressed.

Jaybert Pairat, a cameraman of ABS-CBN, said he was stopped by the Media Accreditation and Relations Office (Maro) from entering because he wore rubber shoes and there was tear in his pants.

James Yap of GMA-TV said he was also prevented from covering the Atrium event after he was spotted wearing shoes supposedly not prescribed by organizers.

Iligan City-based Philippine Daily Inquirer correspondent Divina Suson said she was forced to buy a dress just so she could enter the area while Dennis Guerrero of UNTV went home to change his shoes.

Suson told the Gold Star Daily:Nakapalit gani ko’g dress kay di pwde maong. Nag-polo man toud ko pero nag-maong pud. Mahal ang slacks, nagpalit nalang ko’g dress. Minatay kaayo.”

The dress code imposed on journalists was “smart casual, strictly no roundneck shirt, sando, denims, ripped jeans, rubber shoes, slippers and sandals.

Organizers also had a rule against “ambush interviews” and photographers were told not to use their flashes.

But there were others who were barred simply because because they were not accredited.

Ozamiz-based Mindanawan Broadcasting Channel’s Tata Roxas ranted against the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), saying that one “Jamela” told them they cannot enter because they have not been given accreditation. Roxas said they were told there were only 10 slots available for their area.

Joan Antasuda of Clark TV Best Channel expressed her dismay. “Nasayonan sila sa among kahago ug pamasahe padulong diri? Ingnon lang dayon mi nga wala mi sa listahan?”

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