PSG Head won't apologize to Rappler

Rappler wants the head of the Presidential Group to apologize.

Pia Ranada’s  caused raucous in Malacañang has given the issue another dimension for the critics to pound on, which eventually goes up to the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Ranada was barred from entering palace grounds by the PSG.

Ranada and other reporters kept on asking PSG member Marc Anthony Cempron who was the guard at that time to tell them who gave the order for banning the Rappler reporter in entering the palace grounds.  *

 

Presidential Security Group (PSG) Commander Brig. General Lope Dagoy seen here with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (photo credit to ABSCBN)
 

Rappler demanded an apology from Presidential Security Group (PSG) chief Brigadier General Lope Dagoy from his statement that its reporter Pia Ranada should be thankful his men did not hurt her when she was barred from entering the Palace grounds on Tuesday morning.

In a statement given by the PSG head, he criticized the selective, fault finding, and selective reporting being disseminated by Rappler.

“You see how selective they are in finding fault at me without giving the people the whole picture of the incident. I challenge Rappler that they present the whole video to the public and let them decide who between us made the grievous mistake on what transpired during the incident,” Dagoy said in a statement.

“Imagine namili lang ng portion of the incident then project me already as the bad guy? Tama ba 'yan? Ganyan na ba ang standard ng media investigation ng Rappler? Me to apologize? In their dreams! Sila ang mag-apologize sa sundalo ko.”

Palace Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux "Mocha" Uson was able to interview Dagoy regarding the incident, Rappler slammed the PSG head comments in the interview that transpired.

"Pasalamat kayo hindi kayo sinaktan sa pambabastos na ginawa niyo," Dagoy said in a video posted on Uson's  widely followed Facebook page.   *

"conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman, coming as it did from a soldier who took his oath to defend civilians, who stands closest to the seat of power, and who serves an organization that has shown, time and again, its respect for and appreciation of civilian institutions such as Rappler.” Rappler said in a statement.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also denounced the statement of the PSG chief as against Rappler.

"That remark is uncalled for and really off the mark. Whatever Rappler's offense, the PSG had no right to harm Rappler's people or threaten them," Lorenzana said.

 Report from ABS CBN