Wrong attribution

STAR reporter Edith Regalado apologized yesterday to Filipino-Chinese businessman Lee Peng Wee, who she had reported earlier this month was brokering the release of Abu Sayyaf hostages in Basilan.

The long-drawn hostage crisis in the South has taxed even the credibility of some sources, such that in the course of putting together a story some signals get crossed.

The following is the reporter’s letter to the Zamboanga City-based Wee:

Dear Mr. (Lee Peng) Wee,

The April 15, 2002 headline of The Philippine STAR "Erap pal in ransom talks" contained statements that were inadvertently attributed to you.

You have clearly pointed out the mistake in your earlier letter addressed to me and also to STAR publisher, Mr. Max Soliven and to our editor-in-chief, Mr. Isaac Belmonte.

And I admit that you had not personally given those statements to me but which I should have said I gathered from my other highly reliable sources.

The mistake was really without any malicious intent but something just went wrong while I was in the process of transmitting my article last Sunday afternoon to our desk.

The unfortunate mistake was due to a miscommunication I had with those I conferred with in our editorial desk through a long distance call. I was in a hurry then when I made the call and I did not realize that I already mixed things up. My fault was I did not make myself clear in conveying to our desk what I meant in my story, hence the wrong attribution.

I sincerely apologize for the blunder you said has unduly caused you and your family deep humiliation.

I am sorry and I remain,

Respectfully,

(Sgd.) Edith R. Regalado