Let's thank the Tribune

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor ERIC T. LORETIZO Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The entire institution of media in the Philippines should thank the Daily Tribune for just being there.

One of the first acts of the police and military men out to implement to the hilt the instructions of the President's infamous Proclamation No. 1017 was to swoop down on the offices of the critical daily newspaper, the Daily Tribune and issue warnings to its editor and staff. Forthwith, the over-eager cops, encouraged, no doubt, by their overzealous national head, informed the publication that, henceforth, it would have to toe the line, or else.

Shortly after, the Philippine National Police Chief also told the media that, to prevent them from becoming destabilizers, instigators or aiders and abetters of moves against the "duly constituted authority" that is being protected by a devoted "chain of command", they will have to abide by the "Standards" that he and his people will set. And that they will be issued guidelines on how to comply with the standards, and must have their news and editorial contests monitored and checked against those standards.

To what country had we been transported in just a couple of days? Cuba? Venezuela? The defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics? Worse, it sounds like Iraq. Only those places have placed their media under strictures our so-called Republic had never experienced before.

Now all of us, in print, radio, TV and other media, must thank the Daily Tribune because of what happened to it. Because it was the first to feel the weight of a presidential arm that has vested itself with "national emergency" powers, the case of Philippine media has reached all corners of the earth, drawing focus from international media organizations and foreign governments, and entities supportive of press freedom.

That is why we should be thankful that the Tribune served as the alarm that may save us all.*