Senate honors Inquirer editor

The Senate today adopted a resolution expressing its sympathy to the family of Letty Jimenez Magsanoc, editor-in-chief of the Philippine Daily inquirer, who passed away last December 24, 2015.

Nineteen senators voted to adopt Resolution No. 1699, taking into consideration Senate Resolution No. 1701, introduced by Senator Loren Legarda, and Senate Resolution No. 1704, introduced by Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, who introduced the resolution, hailed Jimenez-Magsanoc as a "prominent sentinel of press freedom who actively resisted any form of undue suppression in journalism and bravely wielded her pen to expose the truth, despite a dictatorship that adhered to a policy of severe censorship."

"Her fearlessness inspired colleagues in the profession whose collective efforts set off a series of events that precipitated the country's freedom from the clutches of a dictatorial government," the resolution said.

For his part, Pimentel said that "Magsanoc will always be remembered as the fearless journalist who fought for the exercise of free speech regardless of who occupied the highest position of the land," Pimentel said, adding that "her passing is a great loss not only to the bereaved family and the community of journalists but to the entire Filipino nation as well."

Legarda then said that "Letty's work ethic is remarkable and her nose for news is a gift. She had the gravitas not many people have. Sometimes she is also childlike, and we were not prepared for Letty's passing. She leaves a void."

Jimenez-Magsanoc's career spanned several decades as she took on various roles in the field of journalism. She was a writer for the Manila Bulletin in 1969 before she became editor of the Philippine Panorama (1976-1981) and editor of the Mr & Ms Special Edition (1983-1986). She was a co-founder of the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 1985, an editor of the Sunday Inquirer Magazine from 1986 to 1987, and was editor-in-chief of the Philippine Daily Inquirer from 1991 to 2015.

Jimenez-Magsanoc's contribution to journalism merited numerous awards and citations, among which are the "Ten Outstanding Women of the New Society" (1981), Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism, University of Missouri (1993); "The Star of Asia," Business Week International Magazine (2000); "Marcelo del Pilar Journalism Award for Print," Rotary Club of Manila (2000); "60 Years of Asian Heroes," Time Magazine International (2006), and "Journalist of the Year," 19th Rotary Club of Manila Journalism Awards (2015).

"Her commitment to responsible, complete and fair reporting, regardless of the risks and hazards such vow entails, cultivated higher ethical standards in the field of journalism and fostered a steadfast pursuit for the truth," the resolution said. (Yvonne Almirañez)