PANGASINAN, Philippines – Ermin Garcia Jr., journalist and publisher-editor of Pangasinan’s oldest community newspaper Sunday Punch, died on Wednesday, July 23. He was 77.

“With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of Ermin Garcia Jr. His kindness, wisdom, and joy have left an indelible mark on all who knew him. Let us come together to honor and celebrate his remarkable life and legacy,” his family said in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday, July 25.

Garcia’s death was unexpected, albeit news about his poor health was made known. In his column published two months before his death, he revealed he was battling with prostate cancer.

Garcia kept his illness a secret from his staff, save for his online administrator Julie Ann Arrogante.

Garcia, only 20 years old at the time, began handling the Sunday Punch two years after his father and namesake was shot dead in his office in Dagupan City on May 20, 1966. Two years later, in 1968, he completed his behavioral science degree at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Under him, the Sunday Punch gained numerous awards, including a UNESCO award naming it as one of the most successful community papers in Asia.

Garcia also served as an executive director for the Philippine Press Institute, and a founding member of the Asia News Network. He was also a founding member of the Asia News Network.

Garcia, like his father, was a staunch advocate of press freedom and known for his hard-hitting tirades in his pieces.

In 1999, when he was publisher-columnist of the Manila Times, then-president Joseph Estrada filed a multimillion-peso libel case against him, regarding an article calling Estrada an “unwitting godfather” to a supposed sham deal.

He also withstood two counts of libel along with his then-staff in 2013, after publishing a banner article titled “CityState Bank’s electric bills charged to City Hall.” The case was junked in September 2014.

Dagupan Mayor Belen Fernandez mourned the loss of her friend, Garcia, whom she described as a “brave and principled media icon.”

“More than just a newspaperman, Ermin was a pillar of truth, courage, and integrity in journalism. His fearless reporting and unwavering commitment to public service helped shape not only the history of Dagupan, but also the lives of countless Dagupeños who found their voice through his words,” Fernandez said.

She added: “He was never afraid to speak truth to power, always standing firm for what is just, right, and true. His passion for truth and accountability has left a legacy that will live on in every story told with honor and integrity.”

Eva Visperas, a colleague at the Sunday Punch, said, “It breaks my heart to lose a mentor, a friend, a boss, a kuya.”

Fellow journalists also paid tribute to Garcia in his social media page. – Rappler.com