A pillar of press freedom

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines mourns the loss of one of the pillars of our media community, Philippine Daily Inquirer publisher Isagani Yambot.

We extend our condolences to his family and to the Inquirer even as we mourn his passing as deeply.

Gani was a tireless advocate of press freedom and was a constant source of inspiration to us.

Notwithstanding manning the helm of one of the top newspapers in the country, he always found time to involve himself in campaigns for press freedom and to end media killings.

Indeed, Gani and his good friend and another source of inspiration, the late Joe Pavia were the “Twin Pillars” of the struggle for press freedom.

Despite the position he held and the esteem that went along with it, you could never see a more humble and gracious person than Gani Yambot. He would hobnob just as easily with reporters and photojournalists as he would with society’s high and mighty. And he never flinched when confronted with the problems besetting Philippine media, not even if these were tied in to the interests of management and even the paper he worked for and loved.

If there is, perhaps, anything Isagani Yambot would have regretted leaving unfinished, it would undoubtedly be the unfinished business of seeing the time when genuine press freedom flourished in our country, when no journalist had to fear losing his life, limb or employment for pursuing the truth, when media owners were truly committed to the welfare and safety of their employees.

But this we promise you, Gani. We will continue the good fight you fought alongside us. And we will not fail.

Mabuhay ka Isagani Yambot! Mabuhay ang malayang pamamahayag!

—NUJP NATIONAL DIRECTORATE, nujphil@gmail.com