“No stories are worth dying for" is a phrase often invoked in contexts where journalists are faced with various risks in the pursuit of a story, the distinction between risk and sacrifice.

But for veteran broadcast journalist, 24 Oras news anchor and GMA Integrated News senior news producer Emil Sumangil, every story that gives a voice to the voiceless and a hope to the hopeless is worth pursuing. Every story that seeks to tell the truth is worth the risk.

“Laban! Diyos na ang bahala sa akin, di niya ako dadalhin dito kung ako’y mapapahamak, merong purpose kung bakit ako nandito ngayon. At ‘yun ang kanyang kalooban,” Emil underscored in his discussion for the GMA Masterclass: The Cebu Press Freedom Week Special on Monday, September 22, 2025, at the University of the Philippines Cebu.

Known for his active church service as a lector (a reader), Emil raises everything about his high-risk assignments to God.

He underscored that he is not afraid of exposing truths. He cannot be afraid, as there has to be someone to do the job, such as in his most explosive news coverage in over 20 years of being a journalist - the case of the missing “sabungeros” (cockfighting enthusiasts).

Emil said that the story on the enforced disappearance of “sabungeros” has been on for three years before Julie (Dondon) Patidongan, alias “Totoy,” revealed himself to GMA Integrated News to tell all.

Emil’s exclusive reporting on Patidongan implicated Charlie (Atong) Ang and many others in the disappearances. Ang, deemed one of influential personalities in the Philippines, is a gambling magnate known for his involvement in the “jueteng” (numbers game) and cockfighting industries.

The exposé led to safety concerns for Emil. However, Emil said it is not serendipity that brought him to the broadcast media industry. He said that from being a humble production assistant who took on photocopying of documents and making coffee for the bosses, and rising through the ranks thereon for his grit and skills, he said he has been cut out for the job.

“Bata pa ako alam ko na kung ano ang gusto ko. Yung nakasanayan kong makinig ng balita - transistor radio pa no’n. Yung pag-uwi ko galing sa school, nakasanayan ko na kasama ng tatay at nanay ko na makinig ng balita,” he further cited.

Emil emphasized that the purpose of being a media practitioner is to tell the truth and effect meaningful societal change with each story produced and told.

He cited that the 34 cockfighting enthusiasts are members of Class D, or individuals in the marginal sector of society.

The root cause has always been abject poverty, he added.

“Walang mayaman [sa kanila] puro mahihirap. Kahirapan ang tunay na ugat ng kawalanghiyaan na ito, ng krimen na ito. Isa ito sa dapat na i-address ng pamahalaan. Para pumunta sa loob ng sabungan, do’n ka hahanap ng pera para pangkain mo sa pamilya mo,  meron pang malaking isyu na dapat asikasuhin ng pamahalaan dito. Yung tunay na kaunlaran ng bawat isa, bawat isang Pilipino,” Emil emphasized.

MEDIA LAW AND ETHICS

When revealing information, especially in exposés, Emil told participants of the GMA Masterclass, who are mostly students in communication, journalism, and multimedia studies from various universities and colleges, both public and private, in Cebu City, that a journalist cannot be affected intensely by the anger, the misery, or the euphoria of one’s story.

“Hindi dapat magpahawa ng emosyon ang mamamahayag, sa kalungkutan, o tuwa’t ligaya ng ginagawa nilang istorya,” Emil said, citing fundamental principles in writing and telling stories based on lawful and ethical practices.

“Yung pagkuha ng ebidensya illegally para magamit sa paggawa ng istorya, hindi pinahihintulutan sa ilalim ng Media Law and Ethics. Halimbawa, yung table ni vice chancellor merong subersibong document, at ikaw kunyari, editor in chief ka [ng school paper] at meron kang gustong i-exposé…pumasok ka sa office ni vice chancellor, nakita mo at kinuha mo ang papel, binasa mo at pinag-aralan mo yung nilalaman. Yun ay tablado, ibig sabihin hindi natin pwedeng i-ere sa ilalim ng Media Law and Ethics ng GMA-7,” Emil stressed.

How does this apply to writing the case of the missing “sabungeros?” Emil pointed out that there has to be pieces of evidence that are obtained legally.

“Gawin nating halimbawa yung kay alias Totoy [Patidongan]. So far, 80 percent ng hinain niyang ebidensya is testimonial evidence. Ibig sabihin kahit pagbali-baligtarin 'yan, hindi 'yan magiging legally obtained evidence dahil puro satsat lang 'yan.  Tinuro niya si Gretchen Barreto. Tinuro niya si Atong Ang, pero 'yan ay hindi legally obtained, testimonial evidence 'yan ayun sa kanyang personal knowledge," Emil elucidated. 

He pointed out that what evidence he can use is the cash voucher issued to each policeman in carrying out the slay of the cockfighting enthusiasts.

“Yung cash voucher na P2 million, P500,000; P100,000 [issued to] sa bawat pulis na papatay...," he cited. 

Despite high risks in pursuing investigative journalism, Emil has encouraged students to pursue work in media, but to treat it more as a vocation rather than a career that could amass wealth.

He said that as a vocation, journalism finds favor before the Lord’s eyes which for Emil is the most valuable pursuit.

He said that work in news production may not offer an affluent lifestyle, but it gives the perfect platform to respond to a greater calling - that which is to serve the public and help effect meaningful change, if not total reform, by shaping public awareness of issues and mobilizing, especially students, through dissemination of verified, accurate information; and further telling engaging stories that empower especially the marginalized sector of society.

“Hindi ho ito ang klase ng pamumuhay na magbibigay ng lifestyle na kagaya ng mga contractor na nababangit [referring to contractors of controversial flood control projects], para po tong pagpapari at pagmamadre,” he stressed.

“Tama ang landas na tinatahak nyo kung gusto nyo ng tunay na public service, walang vested interest, walang hinahanap na kapalit; ito yung klase ng pamumuhay na isa sa hinawakan ng kamay ng Panginoong Hesukristo,” Emil concluded.

The award-winning GMA Masterclass for the 33rd Cebu Press Freedom Week, that aims to spark a meaningful conversation with aspiring journalists in Cebu, is organized by GMA Regional TV and Synergy.