Incident
Philippines: a Rappler reporter is barred from the presidential palace
PhilippinesRSF 2026 rank: 114th of 180
- Access bans
- Stage Pressure
- Unknown
President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Rappler reporter Pia Ranada and the outlet's CEO barred from Malacanang Palace, the seat of the Philippine presidency, after the government revoked Rappler's operating license.123
What happened
On February 21, 2018, Jhopee Avancena, head of Malacanang Palace's internal house affairs office, told Rappler reporter Pia Ranada by text message that she and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa had been banned from the palace grounds on President Duterte's orders. Ranada was initially denied access by guards at the gate but was eventually allowed to join a televised news briefing that day. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government acted because Duterte had lost trust in Rappler over what he called "fake news" reporting, and said Rappler's reporters would have to cover the president's speeches and activities by television rather than in person from the palace. The ban followed weeks of government pressure on Rappler, including the Securities and Exchange Commission's revocation of its operating license the previous month, a decision widely read as retribution for the outlet's coverage of Duterte's campaign and his anti-drug enforcement policy.123
The ban remained in force for the remainder of Duterte's term; no reversal is reported in the source reviewed.123
What reason was given
Stated justificationPresidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government banned Rappler's reporters because President Duterte had "lost trust" in the outlet's "fake news" reporting.1
What changed for reporting
Rappler's palace correspondent could no longer cover the president's activities in person and the outlet was told to rely on television broadcasts instead of first-hand access.2
Timeline
2018
Who acted
| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Roque | other | Presidential spokesperson of the Philippines |
| Jhopee Avancena | enforced | Head of Malacanang Palace's internal house affairs office |
| Rodrigo Duterte | ordered | President of the Philippines |
Outlets and journalists
| Name | Kind | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| Rappler | outlet | affected |
| Maria Ressa | journalist, Rappler | affected |
| Pia Ranada | journalist, Rappler | affected |
Sources
- Philippines bans Rappler reporters from presidential palace
- Philippine leader bans news site from covering his events over 'fake news'
- Palace justifies coverage ban vs Rappler: It's a 'privilege not a right'
Claims and evidence
Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.
- The presidential spokesperson said the ban followed the president's loss of trust in the outlet's reporting, which he called fake news.
lost trust
Philippines bans Rappler reporters from presidential palace, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2018-02-21.Claim 500, checked 2026-09-22. - The spokesperson said Rappler's reporters would have to cover the president's activities by television rather than in person.
have to cover the leader's speeches and activities by live television rather than in person from the presidential palace
Philippines bans Rappler reporters from presidential palace, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2018-02-21.Claim 501, checked 2026-09-22. - A palace official told the Rappler reporter by text message that she and the outlet's CEO had been banned from the palace on the president's orders.
told Ranada by text message that she and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa had been banned from the palace on Duterte's orders
Philippines bans Rappler reporters from presidential palace, Committee to Protect Journalists, 2018-02-21.Claim 565, checked 2026-09-22.