(An article from PCIJ blog posted by Alecks P. Pabico, 19 June 2008 )
NO story is worth a journalist’s life.
This ABS-CBN broadcast journalist Cecilia ‘Ces’ Drilon has painfully learned from her 10-day ordeal as a captive of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu. Presented to the media at yesterday’s press conference following her release, a remorseful Drilon blamed herself for endangering not only her life but those of her companions — cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion, Angelo Valderama, and Mindanao State University professor Octavio Dinampo — in pursuit of a story on the current leadership of the bandit group.
“My office knew to a certain extent what my story was. Merong instructions na sinuway ko kasi, so naging matigas ang ulo ko at one point and I disregarded some warnings. I put the lives of my team in danger. It’s really a very sobering experience for me,” she said.
In their rush to get the story, journalists do often take their safety and security for granted. And while far too many journalists have lost their lives to an assassin’s bullet in this country than when covering conflicts or in dangerous assignments, there are risks and threats that they constantly have to be aware of and prepared for.
(A photo I had with Ces Drilon and other Cebu journalists more than two years ago. 
)
they were supposed to be beheaded without the ransom… Good thing Loren Legarda knew a lot of connections in Mindanao. They were freed without the ransom and were able to bring home everything they had. Except for one camera and their cellphones.
Thank God.
yeah. it’s a good news that their lives were spared.