Cebu Citizens-Press Council

CCPC statement on death of Isagani Yambot
March 6, 2012

The Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC), through executive director Pachico Seares, today issued this statement on the death of Isagani Yambot Sr., newspaper publisher:

Isagani Yambot was genuinely concerned about the community press. As trustee and later as chairman of the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), he initiated and supported training programs aimed to improve craft and values of community journalists. He fought for press freedom and grieved with, and helped seek justice for, families of slain media workers in the countryside.

Gani was publisher of a giant national broadsheet, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and yet he was deeply interested in the survival and growth of small newspapers in the community.

As his fellow trustee at PPI, I had seen Gani up close in his efforts to help upgrade the community press and protect its freedom. At MediaNation 8 held in Cebu last Sept. 30, I thanked him for his help to community media. I’m glad I did.