Polibiz
By Nelson Robles

Mrs. Treñas must beware

Outside imperial Manila, perhaps Iloilo has the greatest number of media prostitutes proliferating in this part of the world. Unlike mushrooms, they sprout anytime, anywhere regardless of the circumstances to suck blood from their potential victims not leaving a tint of drop or two.

You meet them occasionally. Sometimes they drop by the capitol and city hall to pay their benefactors a visit other than soliciting monetary considerations in exchange for their mercenary act. They hang around at their favorite coffee shops in the malls of Robinsons and SM City, and even in the “Michael's Side” around the Iloilo metropolis. They were in their best elements at the recent elections barking thunderously from dawn till dusk. They appeared ferocious trying their worst to slaughter the persons of Gov. Niel D. Tupas, Sr. and City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas in exchange for a few pieces of silver but failed miserably as the duo won by a landslide.

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Veteran Iloilo journalist Alex Vidal should be lauded for his recent expose about the kidnapping incident kept under wraps from the public due to possible involvement of some PNP men.

When I learned it was Alex who exploded the news, I wasn't surprised anymore. I've known Alex as a very reliable and credible journalist, one of the only few in this part of the country who is fearless when it comes to deep-penetrating investigative journalism. I agree with a lot of well-meaning senior media practitioners in Iloilo who swore that Alex would not risk his name, his life and impeccable reputation if he was not sure about his story.

That's why some jealous and envious characters who downplayed Alex's expose better think twice and look themselves in the mirror.

The guy, very unassuming and principled, is no pushover and can look straight in the eyes of anybody. His track record and various national and international trainings will speak for himself.

It is because of his credentials and conviction why he is always the target of envy and jealousy: when he handles a certain issue; he finishes it with panache and is not in the habit of abandoning what he has started. As a former editor-in-chief of Sun Star Iloilo, Alex had exposed so many shenanigans and scandals in government and managed to come out teen feet tall despite some attempts to besmirch him for doing his job.

Unknown to everyone, it was Alex who supported me through thick and thin when I wrote controversial issues involving two city councilors, a provincial board member and a congressman notorious for their abusive acts during our Sun Star days.

Just like Alex I was persecuted the same but was vindicated at the end.

Those who want to discredit Alex are people with ulterior motives who do not have credibility and achievement to speak of. They can't put a good man down.

The media extortionists who target DENR director Vicente Paragas and DILG are in the league with the extortionists who want to hit the family of Mayor Jerry P. Treñas. As of this writing, these scoundrels were already planning to launch a media attack against the mayor's wife who was recently charged with a case which is an intra-family problem. Some of these media vultures also call themselves “publishers” and “editors” of fly-by-night publications. Sometimes, they maintain radio block-time programs financed by unscrupulous characters. They once tried but failed to blackmail Gov. Niel D. Tupas and Mayor Jerry Treñas.

We are warning the public to be wary of these media hooligans.

This is very sad because, whether we like it or not, our profession has its own share of bad eggs. Indeed, in every forest, there is a snake.