Malacañang expressed its condolences to the family of The Daily Tribune founder Ninez Cacho-Olivares who passed away on January 3 due to a “lingering illness.” She was 78.
In a statement Saturday, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Office of the President was deeply saddened upon learning of Olivares’ passing.
“The Palace expresses its deep condolences and commiserates with the family of Ms. Olivares, particularly her children… grandchildren…, as well as her friends, colleagues and loved ones,” he said.
“May the perpetual light shine upon her, and may her soul, through the mercy of God, rest in eternal peace,” he added.
Panelo described Olivares as a “shining example of a journalist who wrote with truth accompanying the movement of her pen.”
“Her words came across as a scalpel that cuts the lies and corruption of political scoundrels,” he said.
“We have lost a welcome hell of a journalist that struck fear in the hearts of corrupt bureaucrats and politicians with pretended nationalism as well as pseudo-intellectuals who suffocate the air with their nonsense,” he added.
Olivares was the founder, former publisher and editor-in-chief of The Daily Tribune. She was, for more than 20 years, a feature writer and a political commentator in various Manila broadsheets like the Bulletin Today, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Business Day and Business World.
In his statement, Panelo remembered Olivares for her commentaries and analyses laced with wit and elegant sarcasm on government incompetence and corruption that provided probing and intellectual insights to her readers.
“Ms. Olivares’ moving passion for reportage is legendary. Her debilitating illness could not stop her from putting The Daily Tribune to bed every day,” he said.
According to the Palace official, Olivares was one of the leading figures who carried the torch for freedom of expression during the martial law years of the Marcos regime.
“She bravely joined the parliament of the streets against the Marcos presidency. The threat of arrest and detention could not deter her from pursuing her advocacy of freedom of the press and good government,” he said. (Argyll Cyrus Geducos)
