Ricky Carandang: Focusing On Safety

Written on Friday, June 13th, 2008 at 7:50 pm | by Nick

I haven’t stopped by Ricky Carandang’s blog in a while, so I was surprised that there wasn’t any entry regarding The Ces Drilon kidnapping. But then again, the subject is very touchy at the moment, and I really don’t blame him for his silence on his blog. Apparently, he has even censored a commentator on his blog for taking potshots, and here is his reply,

When Angelo dela Cruz was being held hostage in Iraq, I was about to interview a former diplomat who had spent years in Iraq. We were going to discuss the pros and cons of pulling Philippine troops out. Malacanang had gotten word and five minutes before the interview Bobi Tiglao called me and asked me not to do the interview as it could be misconstued by dela Cruz’captors and his life could be at risk. With apologies, I sent the diplomat home. The analysis could wait.

When lives are at stake the way that my three colleagues lives are now at stake in Sulu, I will not discuss anything that would possibly endanger them. I know how many of you people out there hate me and ABS-CBN and you have always been free to express that hatred here. But to take potshots at us now is just the height of callousness. Once this is resolved I will gladly take all the shit from George and his ilk.

But for now I will exercise my right as owner of this blog to censor any comment I deem offensive.

If I was in his situation, being a close colleague of Ces Drilon, I don’t blame him. I’d probably go further on the cussing meter. In any case, when we analyze the situation, in the end, we have to remind ourselves that there are still lives at stake, and sometimes, we need to realize this. As with the murders in RCBC, curiousity sometiems gets me pissed off.

Tags: ,
Add to del.icio.us | Digg this! | Yahoo MyWeb | Google Bookmark It! | Stumble It!
About The Author: Nick is a passionate Filipino, and a political junkie. His personal blog is at Tingog - The Voice of The Filipino. He is the founder and Editor not Chief of FilipinoVoices.com. He has been blogging since 2006.

Filed Under Society

Related Entries:

Comments

3 Responses to “Ricky Carandang: Focusing On Safety”

  1. Ding G. Gagelonia on June 13th, 2008 11:05 pm

    Nick,

    Have tried, as well, to keep my emotions in check as I watch the unfolding events in the human drama now playing out in Sulu. The reactions some have been posting most everywhere on the Net have shaken some of my faith in our innate goodness as a people.

    But reading Ricky’s comment, allow me to say that I fully subscribe to his position and share his feelings.

    Ces and I go back years, having been her news producer at the old Maharlika Broadcasting System, now NBN 4. Ces joined the news department sometime in mid 1084 or early 1985, straight out of college almost the same time as Thelma Dumpit, Angelique Lazo, and Korina. Our boss then was Jess Matubis, Jr.. now Maynilad spokesman. I was Editorial chief, while Rudy Aquino was head of news producer.

    I share this personal background only so your readers can understand why, like Ricky, am angry, enraged even, at the sweeping and misplaced comments the ignorant have been making about this dark episode in Sulu.

    In my own video blog site, and in this collective, posters have, without regard for the fact that human lives stake, been nonchalant and heartless in their at misplaced conclusions.

    I pray only that Ces and her companions are set free and returned to their loved ones soon.

    I can barely imagine the ordeal they are suffering. Those of us who care, and care deeply for human life, draw strength only from the knowledge that Ces’ own indomitable spirit and faith in the Lord will see them through this very difficult chapter.

    Let no one among us wish otherwise, for anyone.

  2. Nick on June 14th, 2008 3:32 am

    @Ding, well said.

    Those who are ignorant, hopefully, will now know what is at stake, and why taking potshots, and making a mockery of the ordeal is the most inhuman thing anyone can do at the moment.

    HOw, you have handled this ordeal, while still providing us updates on the kidnapping, I hope will resonate around the blogosphere, as to how to handle such a scenario. Professional, yet empathic of the situation.

  3. jcc on June 24th, 2008 9:42 pm

    ces drillon et. al., icons of courage?

    At PCIJ website i posted:

    THIS IS ALL ABOUT MILEAGE AND RATINGS

    Don’t call me a pessimist, but there is a general feeling that all these risk-taking adventures of media practitioners have something to do with competition for ratings among media organizations. One is trying to outdo the others in terms of legitimacy and boldness in coverage.

    The real media icons and heroes are the ones that got shot at and were assassinated, and not the ones pursuing hot leads hoping to determine the legit leader of the bandit groups. Who cares?

    Of all the devilish craps heaped on Mr. Marcos, I can think of one statement he made which has some shade of statesmanship:

    “We interview and quote our criminals as if they were the heads of state”. (of course, Mr. Marcos is also a criminal, only that he happened to be the head of State).

    The media nowadays are playing in the hands of criminals and thugs and yet we continue to idolize their misplaced priorities and wrong sense of values.

Leave a Reply