Journalists from various media outlets are hats off to ABS-CBN News reporter Chiara Zambrano’s bravery to deliver a potent, piece of information.
Through twitter, journalists from various media outlets in the country lauded Zambrano’s guts to deliver the news despite a Chinese coast guard vessel and two missile-armed fast attack craft on their tails.
Journalist, reporter, and Kapuso news anchor Atom Araullo lauded Zambrano and the ABS-CBN News team for gathering video evidence of the dire situation in the West Philippine Sea.
Kudos to the ABS-CBN news team led by @chiarazambrano for gathering video evidence of the dire situation in the West Philippine Sea. https://t.co/njzCyVmYYy
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) April 10, 2021
Then, ABS-CBN News reporter Mike Navallo defended Zambrano from the bashers, listing all of her accomplishments throughout her career.
https://twitter.com/mikenavallo/status/1380774396076290050
Navallo also retweeted a post from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines. The tweet calls out the Armed Forces of the Philippines for blaming Zambrano over her news report.
NUJP National Directorate defends Chiara Zambrano and the ABS-CBN News team after AFP issued its statement calling for journalists to exercise prudence.
NUJP asks: Why blame journalists for being harassed? https://t.co/l65H75rJkt
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) April 9, 2021
ABS-CBN reporter and news anchor Karen Davila also defended Zambrano. She noted that the incident with the Chinese vessels happened within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines.
How comforting. @chiarazambrano and team were WITHIN the Exclusive Economic Zone of the West Philippine Sea. Ang naranasan nila ay nararanasan ng ating mga mangingisda araw araw. https://t.co/iY4dzjGjug
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) April 9, 2021
Kapamilya host Bianca Gonzalez lauded Zambrano’s bravery, noting that she was her batchmate and classmate.
Maraming salamat, @chiarazambrano. Proud to be your batchmate and classmate. Ang katapangan mo ay inspirasyon sa amin.
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) April 9, 2021
Former Kapamilya reporter Kevin Manalo praised Zambrano’s bravery and hoped for more reporters of her caliber.
Babae. Mamamahayag. Chiara.
Nawa’y dumami pa ang mga mamamahayag na kagaya mo.
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) April 10, 2021
Columnist Gideon Lasco saluted Zambrano; hoped to see the same courage among the leaders of the Philippines.
We need a government who will defend our territory and defend the rights of our citizens within our territory.
I salute @chiarazambrano for her journalism and wish that we can see some of her courage among our leaders.
— Gideon Lasco (@gideonlasco) April 9, 2021
Investigative Journalist Raissa Robles wrote if she had the same budget, she would have done the same thing as Zambrano.
Excuse me, if I had the budget and the logistics I would have done the same thing that @chiarazambrano did. Ive gone to interview the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, the MNLF in a remote island of Sulu and to Camp Abubakar in MILF country. Alone. It's what we do. SO #DontUs https://t.co/9MAbKn1I41
— Raissa Robles (@raissawriter) April 9, 2021
Filipino Journalist Lian Buan lauded Zambrano’s clarity and expertise in her report.
The clarity and expertise in this reporting. https://t.co/K1Z1FadHtV
— Lian Buan (@lianbuan) April 9, 2021
Zambrano responded to the Department of Foreign Affairs. She clarified that their team was in communication with the Armed Forces of the Philippines throughout their journey.
The news team was in communication with the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines before, during, and after the journey. https://t.co/2lxnG1WC7d
— Chiara Zambrano (@chiarazambrano) April 10, 2021
ABS-CBN News reporter Chiara Zambrano and her team attempted to go to the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea to gather information from Filipino fishers about reports of hundreds of Chinese vessels in the turmoil-filled waters.
However, a Chinese coast guard vessel blocked their path, prompting their boat captain to head back to Palawan. While on their way, the Chinese Coast Guard Vessel chased them. After that, two Type-22 (Houbei Class) Fast Attack Crafts, known as missile-armed vessels, continued the chase 90 nautical miles from the shores of Palawan.
