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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: APOLOGIES TO RACHEL ONG AND HER FAMILY

To Miss Rachel Ong and her family,

Please accept my deepest apologies over the story ‘Horror at Firing Range’ published in People’s Tonight last October 12.

The story was written based on the ‘reported alleged suicide’ at the Jethro Firing Range along West Avenue, Quezon City as reported by the Quezon City Police District Station 2 and other sources. It was also ordered investigated by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Philippine National Police (PNP-FEO) Firearms and Explosives Office.

It was not my intention to create such an ‘uncomfortable and problematic’ situation for the family of Rachel Ong. Nor was there any malice or ill intention. As a journalist and as part of my profession, it was only borne out of a desire to write a developing story.

I apologize for the lack of the much-needed time to get the contact number of the woman’s family and ask for more details.

If there was any good that came out of this unfortunate experience, it is that I have further grown and learned alternative approaches in writing a story. This is actually a first but another learning and humbling experience for me who has been in the professional writing profession for over 30 years.

Again, my sincerest apologies, Sirs and Ma’ams.

Respectfully,

Alfred Dalizon