‘Enrile threatens’ headline without basis, intriguing
METHINKS the banner story “Enrile ‘threatens’ to write two books” (Inquirer, 10/24/12) should not pass unnoticed!
To begin with, the word “threatens” has intrigued me endlessly. Those of us who had pursued the related story from beginning to end would readily agree that there was not a slight intention on Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile’s part “to express a warning or to inflict evil, injury or damage”—that is what “to threaten” simply means—in considering to write Books 2 and 3 of his widely acclaimed “Memoir.” Of course, I must understand that the author and editor of that article merely wanted to inject impact into the story for better reader attraction. Indeed, they succeeded in that endeavor, although too vainly and downright unnecessarily because they sacrificed in the process two very essential requirements of news writing: plain truth and precise language. I can’t claim to be a journalist, as I am not; but I refuse to believe that quotation marks are enough to make up for the loss of both requirements in this particular news report.
As things are, I don’t know how Senator Enrile reacted to this news item, but that is the least of my concerns in writing this letter. I just wish to state two things as a matter of personal opinion. Firstly, the titling of the subject news report sadly leaves much to be desired; it does not speak well of my otherwise most highly regarded broadsheet in town. Secondly—in fact, more importantly—having myself fully read Enrile’s autobiography, I also find it wanting in episodes regarding his law practice and life as a senator. If some sequels to his “Memoir” are really forthcoming, I wish one would cover an even more essential subject matter, which I am sure most of us have long been wanting to come directly from the horse’s mouth, if I may use some metaphors. I mean, how had the good senator succeeded, having risen from truly very humble beginnings, in building his much ballyhooed business empire?
—RUDY L. CORONEL, [email protected]
