PDI publisher pumanaw na

MANILA, Philippines - Nagluluksa ngayon ang Philippine media sa pagpanaw ng beteranong journalist na si Isagani Yambot, 77.

Si Yambot, publisher ng Philippine Daily Inquirer, ay namatay sanhi ng cardiac arrest sa kanyang tahanan nitong Biyernes matapos sumailalim sa quadruple bypass operation sa Medical City. Ang kanyang labi ay nakalagak ngayon sa Arlington Memorial Chapel sa Araneta Avenue, Quezon City.

Nagpahatid na rin ng pakikiramay ang Malacañang sa pamilya ni Yambot.

Ayon kay Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, isang malaking shock sa lahat ang pagpanaw ni Yambot na maituturing ng haligi sa media.

Sinabi pa ni Valte na bago pa ideklara ang Martial Law ay isa ng mamamahayag si Yambot at marami ring mga bagong journalists ang naturuan nito.

“Isagani Yambot was a newsman in the no-holds-barred days before martial law, and continued in the profession in the oppressive martial law years; he was one of the links with the pre-martial law press who mentored a new generation of journalists to understand just how much a free press matters, and who stood shoulder to shoulder with his peers each and every time free speech came under attack after EDSA,” ani Valte.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved publisher Isagani Yambot. He will surely be missed but his spirit lives on in the work we do to ensure editorial policies are closely followed,” pahayag ng Inquirer sa kanilang website.

Sinabi naman ni Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) chairman Babe Romualdez na ang pagkamatay ni Yambot ay malaking kawalan sa pamamahayag. Si Yambot ay nagsilbing presidente ng MOPC noong nakaraang taon.

“Yambot is a good man,” wika naman ni STAR president and chief executive officer Miguel Belmonte.