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 18th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Re: “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]…”
Advice ng govt? Bakit talaga bang lawless na sa Pilipinas that you cannot practice your profession without the risk of being kidnapped?
No wonder there are permanent travel advisories agains Pinas. But what can a toothless PNP and a cowardly-led AFP do? There’s not more than 125000 officers and men in the AFP.
I am of the opinion that some military and police officers were involved in the planning of the kidnapping.
Won’t be surprised that MGen Dolforino is in on it. The guy is a leech.
June 18th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
hey, marta, there are some things in life that should not be taken as is….otherwise everybody will be so gullible to accept news as they are without understanding the real facts about it…if you only see the other facts about the so called kidnapping you will realize that those who kidnapped them were actually given that opportunity of a lifetime… good thing that these supposedly Abu Sayaff kidnappers did not practice what the abu sayaff that we previously knew of did to their victims… remember how they beheaded and raped their victims before?….i’m not being arrogant or something…just want to see the other side of the story…
June 14th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
This is a paradigm of corporate media power. At least ABS-CBN Network has shown the world how they can control news even for a short period of time.
June 14th, 2008 at 6:05 am
Hey ..Ella Jean Rose, if you cannot contribute some soothing words to the families of the persons concern to alleviate their sufferings, just keep your mouth shut. I suspect you have a problem with yourself and your family, you have a bitter attitude of life ..tsk tsk.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:31 am
[...] summarized its reaction to the kidnapping of broadcast journalist Ces Drilon, her crew and guide. There are mixed reactions to the kidnapping of Ms. Ces Drilon, her crew and a guide but I believe the response of the police [...]