MANILA, Philippines–For the fourth time in a row, the Volunteers against Crime and Corruption (VACC) has named the Philippine Daily Inquirer as its “Outstanding Newspaper of the Year.”
Inquirer reporter Nancy Carvajal also became a back-to-back recipient of the VACC’s Outstanding Newspaper Reporter award for her continued reportage on the pork barrel scam and other crime- and corruption-related issues.
The VACC, composed mostly of victims of heinous crimes, handed out the award at the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Manila on Wednesday in celebration of its 16th anniversary.
The Inquirer, which has been inducted into the VACC’s Hall of Fame after being named Outstanding Newspaper in 2001, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013, was cited for its “consistent pursuit of its mission to bare the truth and to practice journalistic excellence and responsible news reporting.”
Consistency
“The Inquirer has proven its consistency in representing the democratic process of giving everyone the opportunity to explain their position on vital issues, which is important because, in the end, we are set free,” VACC founding chairman and president Dante Jimenez said in an interview.
Carvajal was feted for her unwavering pursuit of stories related to corruption in the government, particularly the P10-billion pork barrel scam.
Carvajal, the Inquirer’s NBI reporter, was also given the award last year because of her groundbreaking series explaining how businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles allegedly cashed in on lawmakers’ pork barrel.
Other Inquirer reporters who have been named Outstanding Newspaper Reporter include Jerome Aning (2001), Michael Ubac (2002), Christian Esguerra (2005), Jocelyn Uy (2007), Fe Zamora (2008), Marlon Ramos (2009), Cathy Yamsuan (2011) and Julie Aurelio (2012).
Special Award
Inquirer reporter Tina Santos received a Special Award as Outstanding Newspaper Reporter for her “commendable professional work as newspaper reporter, in recognition of her commitment to responsible and balanced newspaper reporting that included stories ventilating our advocacy for justice and our campaign against crime and corruption.”
Inquirer photographer Joan Bondoc also received a Special Award as Outstanding Newspaper Photojournalist for her photographs that convey with accuracy the plight and situation of the Filipino people.
The Inquirer, Carvajal, Santos and Bondoc were among 90 institutions and people awarded this year by the VACC in recognition of their crusade against crime and corruption. A 91st award, called the Kalabasa Award, was presented to the Court of Appeals for its slow cognizance of cases.
As this developed, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday reiterated her opposition to the re-imposition of the death penalty.
“I believe that the most effective deterrent than the death penalty is an effective honest-to-goodness law enforcement and implementation of laws,” De Lima told reporters in the sidelines of the 16th anniversary of the VACC where she was among the special guests.
Victims’ group
The VACC, whose members are relatives of victims of heinous crimes, has been advocating the restoration of the death penalty.
Republic Act No. 7659, or the Death Penalty Law, was repealed by Republic Act No. 9346, or the Law Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty, in the Philippines.
“I am consistent with my position. I cannot support the move for the restoration of the death penalty with due respect to the proponents,” De Lima said.
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