By Vince Lopez and Maricel V. Cruz
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended his condolences to the family and loved ones of veteran broadcaster Mike Enriquez while applauding his dedication to serving the Filipino people through his delivery of news and information.
“We are saddened by [the] news of the passing of veteran anchor Mike Enriquez, a pillar in our broadcasting industry. He dedicated his life to delivering unbiased news to the Filipino people,” President Marcos said on his TwitterX account.
“Our heartfelt thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this time,” he added.
In the House of representatives, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez joined the media industry—the broadcasting sector in particular—and other citizens in mourning Enriquez/s death.
“The industry and media network GMA-7 have just lost a broadcasting giant. The death of Mike Enriquez has left a void in the industry and in his beloved network his colleagues would struggle to fill. His absence will be felt for a long time,” said Romualdez, head of the 311-member House of Representatives.
He said Enriquez was a tireless media practitioner, an anti-corruption, an anti-abuse, and an anti-wrongdoing crusader.
“I and my colleagues in the House extend our sincerest condolences to Mr. Enriquez’s family, loved ones, his media colleagues, and those who loved him. Our prayers and thoughts are with them at this most difficult time,” Romualdez stated.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil also extended her condolences to Enriquez’s family and paid tribute to the remarkable Enriquez’s contribution in shaping the landscape of what she called unbiased journalism in the Philippines.
“Our condolences to the family and relatives left behind by our media friend Mike Enriquez,” Secretary Velicaria-Garafil said in a statement shortly after GMA Network reported the passing of Enriquez, 71, on August 29.
“Mike is one of the journalists we consider to be an asset in delivering honest and unbiased news. Indeed his contribution to the field of journalism is inestimable,” she added.
The Presidential Communications secretary is also a former journalist before taking positions in the government.
Enriquez was one of the anchors of GMA’s newscast “24 Oras” and the host of the longest running investigative docudrama “Imbestigador,” among other radio programs on GMA’s DZBB such as Saksi sa Dobol B and Super Balita sa Umaga.
