Ninez Cacho-Olivares, a veteran journalist and founder of local broadsheet The Daily Tribune (Photo courtesy of The Daily Tribune)
MANILA -- Malacañang on Saturday condoled with the family of The Daily Tribune founder Ninez Cacho-Olivares who passed away on Friday due to a lingering illness.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Office of the President was “deeply saddened” by the passing of the 78-year-old veteran journalist.
“The Palace expresses its deep condolences and commiserates with the family of Ms. Olivares, as well as her friends, colleagues and loved ones,” Panelo said in a statement. “May the perpetual light shine upon her, and may her soul, through the mercy of God, rest in eternal peace.”
Olivares was the founder, former publisher, and editor-in-chief of The Daily Tribune. She sold the publication to the Concept and Information Group in June 2018.
She also worked as a feature writer and political commentator in several Manila broadsheets, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Bulletin Today, Business Day, and Business World.
Panelo acknowledged that The Daily Tribune became a hard-hitting publication that delivers news “without fear or favor” because of Olivares.
“She was known for her biting commentaries and insightful analyses laced with wit and elegant sarcasm on government incompetence and corruption that provided probing and intellectual insights to her readers,” he said. “Her debilitating illness could not stop her from putting The Daily Tribune to bed every day.”
Panelo said Olivares' moving passion for reportage is “legendary.”
He noted that during the martial law regime under the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Olivares was “one of the leading figures who carried the torch for freedom of expression.”
“She bravely joined the parliament of the streets against the Marcos presidency,” Panelo said. “The threat of arrest and detention could not deter her from pursuing her advocacy of freedom of the press and good government.”
Panelo said Olivares was a “shining example” of a journalist who wrote with truth and her demise was a big loss.
“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.”
Olivares is survived by her children Peter, Bambina, Michael, and Pixie; children-in-law Tweety Quintero, Xandra Barretto and Jay Fonacier; and grandchildren Carlo, Iñigo, Isabella, and Enrique Olivares, Samantha and Jessica Wise, Julio Olivares, and Noelle Fonacier. (PNA)
