Journalists Not Allowed to Enter During the Cebu Victory Party of Pres. Duterte

Local and national-based journalists were not allowed to enter during the victory party of Pres. Rody Duterte in Cebu City organized by the “Bisaya Na Pud Movement” at the Cebu Country Club. More than 200 supporters, businessmen, members of Duterte Cabinet were all invited by the Duterte camp to attend the said victory party but only the state-owned media were allowed to enter.

The victory party in Cebu City was dubbed by the organizers as “Bisaya Na Gyud!” wherein hundreds of Duterte volunteers joined hand in hand in congratulating the Davao City mayor on his victory. Before the highly anticipated speech of Mayor Duterte, some local and Manila entertainers which included presidential son, Baste Duterte entertain the crowds with their talents.

The blocking of journalists from entering and joining the Duterte Victory Party in Cebu City is considered some netizens as in line with the first President from Mindanao’s statement that he will boycott the media until the end of his term after he was misquoted and when his various statements were misinterpreted by some national media during his previous press conference.

According to the organizers of the Duterte Victory Party in Cebu City only PTV channel 4, a state-owned TV broadcasting network was allowed to cover the event. President Duterte once said that his statements will only be channeled to PTV4 or RTVM.

In a separate report by Inquirer, journalists were snubbed by Pres. Duterte from entering the presidential guesthouse compound in Barangay Panacan where Mayor Rody Duterte earlier met with the outgoing House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and other members of the Liberal Party as the group supported the candidacy of Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez and formed the “supermajority” in the Lower House.

What can you say about the latest decision of President Rody Duterte to stand by his word of boycotting the media? Just shared your thoughts in the space provided below.