MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has apparently shrugged off the recognition given by Time magazine to Rappler’s Maria Ressa, who was among those named Person of the Year.
Duterte alluded to Ressa while he was stressing the importance of his administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign during the opening of the Villar-owned Mella Hotel in Las Piñas on Thursday.
He disputed the claims of human rights activists who decried extrajudicial killings, which purportedly happened during his watch.
“Alam mo itong mga human rights. ‘Look at Duterte.’ They go everywhere. Seven hundred – a time of the – a time of the – woman of the century and all. Inyo na ‘yan,” he said.
While he did not mention Ressa’s name, Duterte’s statements came after Time named the Rappler executive as one the guardians of truth. Time also chose slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, jailed Burmese journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo of Reuters and the Capital Gazette in Maryland.
Panelo also disputed Ressa’s statements yesterday where the latter deplored how Rappler reporter Pia Ranada was banned from presidential coverage, apparently as a result of the administration’s attacks against the media.
“And by the way, Ressa in one of… or I saw her interview this morning, she was complaining about Pia Ranada being barred here and she says that it’s unconstitutional,” Panelo said.
“First, we said that coming here in the Palace is a privilege. And there are, certainly, rules that should be followed by members of the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC),” he added.
Ranada is still able to send in her questions during the Palace briefings, sent via the MPC.
“Even if Pia was disallowed from coming here, the fact is, you just saw, she can still ask questions and we’re still responding. She can still cover; nothing has changed except her physical presence,” Panelo said.
Panelo challenged Rappler to bring the matter to court if they find Duterte’s actions unconstitutional.