Loren's investment a wise one

A news item that stood out in yesterday's national dailies was the one about a South Korean reporter whose body was found in his car in Paco, Manila Wednesday. Ku Kung Jin, 45, was discovered with three bullet wounds in his chest and, as of yesterday's reports, no arrest had been made yet. What is worrisome is that this may be taken by the international media as proof that even foreign journalists are not safe in our country. We do have a reputation for being second only to Iraq as the most dangerous country for journalists to be in, you see.

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That is probably why we have been getting sympathetic feedback from friends in other parts of the world lately. To them, we appear to be real heroes - or hardheaded mules - who continue to press our luck by staying in this profession. Masochists, that's what they think we are. Are we? Some of the messages we have been getting from the e-mail sound like letters of condolence. Although we have a policy against quoting lengthily from letters to us in our columns, I'm sure our readers, and our fellow writers will tolerate this lapse for once.

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Wrote one friend from the Washington Post: "Everyone who cares about press freedom in the world owes you and the other brave journalists in the Philippines our thanks and support. You are truly on the front lines in the battle to protect the public's right to have the information that people need to govern themselves - a battle that is becoming more intense around the world. It is so important that all of us stand up for the freedom of information and freedom of the press. You and your colleagues are setting an incredible example that the rest of us must take to heart and emulate. All of you will be in my thoughts and prayers as the battle continues…"

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Another concerned journalist, from the San Francisco Chronicle, wrote: "What a frightening time! Over here, we fear the prospect of our rights being repressed. But our experiences do not begin to approach what you are going through. Your organizing into action is surely the best hope against the threats to the press. I wish for you and your colleagues the strength to match your convictions, and I wish for President Arroyo the wisdom to preserve the precious, hard-won freedoms of her country. Take care…"

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I might mention here that these two American journalists are very competent and well-qualified, one of them being the head of the Journalism Department of a highly prestigious American University. It is really very comforting to hear that our sisters and brothers in the profession are quite concerned about us. It proves and confirms what was earlier written here, that, even if we in the media may have grievous problems, "Hindi tayo nag-iisa - we are not alone".

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The news about former senator and vice-presidential candidate Loren Legarda depositing the cool sum of P3.3 million that is required for the recount of the ballots in the 2004 elections that she is contesting, should give proclaimed winner Noli de Castro a few sleepless nights. Loren will not just plunk in that hefty amount if she were not sure of her chances of proving her claim. And of course there is more at stake than just being able to prove that she was shortchanged by those who tallied the votes in that election.

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There may have been quite a lapse of time since the voting, but, you see, the vice presidential term ends in 2010 yet. Even if it takes a year, even two, before the case is resolved, there will be three more years to go - if she wins this one. Still a bigger stake is the possibility that the incumbent president will resign, be ousted, or gets sick. Who will take over, then? Naturally, whoever is vice president. So don't jeer at Loren Legarda or say she is being foolhardy. Not only is she a seasoned politician, she is also a seasoned mediawoman, and, most of all, also a member of the military, having the rank of colonel, being an honor graduate of the National Defense College. That P3.3 million is a wise investment, I'd say.*

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