By Alex Villafania
INQUIRER.net
A DAY after an apparent news embargo on the abduction of ABS-CBN reporter Ces Drilon, two of her crew and a professor from the Mindanao State University, the online Filipino community of bloggers and forums is already alive with exchanges about their fates. Some offered prayers and praises for her while others speculated as to the purpose of the media blackout.
Since Monday, there has been speculation regarding the alleged abduction. Forums such as PinoyExchange.com and Peyups.com have dedicated threads on the issue and have been exchanging ideas since June 9. One member of Peyups.com posted a story from the online version of The Mindanao Examiner, though some members questioned the veracity of the story, stating that they have not picked up the story from other news websites and that it could be a hoax.
It was on June 9 when ABS-CBN executives “requested” other media outfits to embargo the story until 6 a.m. of June 10, stating concerns about the safety of Drilon and her companions. This was also later criticized by some Peyups.com and Pinoyexchange.com members.
Nevertheless, they still offered their sympathies and hoped that the abducted group would be released unharmed.
A few bloggers have started discussing the story. Warrior Lawyer’s blog post stressed the dangers of journalists going after stories, especially in war-torn areas, noting the story of American journalist Daniel Pearl who was beheaded by his abductors in Iraq.
“…the safety of all journalists is our collective concern. Without them, our democracy risks being reduced, in the words of Chief Justice Puno, to the ’sovereignty of the deaf and the dumb,’” Warrior Lawyer said.
Others criticized the apparent media blackout on the abduction. Willie Galang saw the embargo on the story as a form of control by a media institution. “Look who’s doing news blackouts now! Look who’s asking everyone concerned to be circumspect on their brand of journalism! I never thought these words would actually be part of an official statement from ABS-CBN. It just appears funny coming from the not-so-responsible network itself.”
Some critics had less-than-kind words for Drilon, the company she works for and the media in general. One comment on the blog post of Ellen Tordesillas states: “By the way, why is it that whenever someone gets kidnapped (not from media), the media is all over it even on the pleadings of the victim’s family not to report it. But when it’s their own who gets kidnapped they had a news blackout? Their reason? “… with utmost consideration for the safety of our news team” Whoa.. as if the other victims safety is of no importance to them. Sorry guys can’t help it. I knew someone who has been kidnapped before and these media outfits are like leeches.. the relatives just couldn’t shake them off!!!”
Another comment on a Tagpuan.com blog post disapproved of media’s continuous efforts to take dangerous assignments without security detail:”Very irresponsible kasi, dapat laging may kasamang security or any provincial police pag pumupunta sa mga liblilb na lugar sa Pilipinas… Yan ang advice ng government sa mga journalist, pero hindi nakikinig ang ABS [CBN]…”
June 12th, 2008 at 11:01 am
i just hope that this “kidnapping” is not one of the publicity stunts of this network to gain back some of its popularity taken by their rival network…the manner by which this supposed kidnapping is being played up, to me, is like a telenovela that would eventually end happily ever after….i just hope that we are not just taken for a ride…safe return to all those who were supposed to be kidnapped.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:07 am
The Abu Sayyaf in the past several years since the death of Sabaya had been silent, not to mention the few encounters with the Government troops and few bombings, but no more kidnapping until the group of media practitioners went to their lair for an interview, just like entering into a lions den, lions who havent eaten for days. I’m very sorry for them, but I think it was very irresponsible, knowing what they (the Abus) do with media people in the past. Knowing what they do with their hostages, especially female hostages, lets hope and pray that they are safe from all danger, be freed soon.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Mahirap isipin ang panganib na sinusuong ng bawat mamamahayag upang maihatid ang balita sa publiko.
Ngunit ang panganib na ito ang siya rin nagbibigay ng pag-asa sa bawat isa na malaman ang katotohanan, sa ngalan ng malayang pamamahayag.
Ngunit ang naging desisyon ng ABS-CBN na embarguhin ang balitang dapat sana ay agad malaman ng publiko ay nakalulungkot isipin.
Interest kasi ng ABS-CBN ang nakataya dito. Sa dami ng mga insidente ng kidnapping na inilabas ng ABS-CBN ay hindi nito nagawang embargohin ang balita dahil sa interest ng publiko.
Kaming mga mamamahayag ay may kanya-kanyang pananagutan sa aming sarili. Pananagutan ko ang aking sariling kaligtasan at ang kaligtasan na rin ng aking mga kasahamahan.
At ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat ay ang masiguradong hindi ako o ang king mga kasamahan ang malalagay sa panganib.
May responsibilidad ang bawat mamamahayag sa kanilang sarili at ito ay ang matiyak na ligtas ang lahat sa anumang lugar na sinusuungan.
Mabuhay!
mindanaoexaminer.com