CLARK FREEPORT - The Clark Freeport will be the host of the 1st Newsmen's Golf Tournament to be held on January 22 at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club here, the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) announced.
CDC President Benigno N. Ricafort said the event is a joint project between the state-owned CDC and top Manila-based editors that aims to raise funds for the families of the victims of the gruesome Maguindanao Massacre.
Ricafort said the golf tournament was initially conceived as a fund raising project for the benefit of victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.
However, Ricafort added that the tragedy was followed by another misfortune, which involved the grisly killing of at least 30 Mindanao-based journalists.
Ricafort said "The nation was appalled, then enraged. Emotions will gradually die down but the sufferings of all the Mrs. Myrna Reblandos of General Santos City have just started."
"This fund-raising golf tournament is our small gesture of support for them," Ricafort added.
Participating in the 1st Celebrity Newsmen's Golf Tournament are editors and reporters from at least five national broadsheets, 10 daily and local weekly papers, four national television stations, and three radio stations.
Also expected to participate in the event are high ranking officials from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Air Force, former Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, (Land Transportation Office) LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Arturo Lomibao, PNP Chief Jesus Versoza, and local officials.