MANILA, Philippines - For decades, Marites Vitug’s pen has been powerful enough to make or break names and institutions. Her books were about topics and issues never before explored in investigative journalism--until she wrote them.

With the addition of a new book, "Shadow of Doubt: Probing the Supreme Court", Vitug is opening another gate, and proving that courage in the line of fire is one that stems from passion, curiosity, and love for the job.

"Shadow of Doubt", Vitug’s fourth book, was launched last March 16, 2010 and has sold more than 3,000 copies in less than 6 months. The sales was surprising, as her last three books were never best sellers.

“Nagulat ako sa reaction,” she told Boy Abunda on "The Bottomline" on Saturday. “I told myself, kapag hindi ito bebenta, eleksyon eh.”

"Shadow of Doubt" is the first book that probed the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

The book was controversial for numerous reasons. For one, the book critiqued the inner workings of the Supreme Court and included how the justices arrive at decisions.

Furthermore, the book’s initial publisher, publishing giant Anvil Publishing, Inc., refused to print the book for its “sensitive and controversial” content. A week after the launch, Vitug received death threats.

“Alam ko 'yun ang unang libro na magli-lift ng belo ng Supreme Court. Ang tingin ko sa SC, ito ay nasa taas ng mountain, peak ng isang bundok, na hindi ko maabot,” she said.

“Nung nag-umpisa na akong magsulat, para din pala silang military. Napakatahimik. Napaka-hierarchal. Ayaw ipabukas ang mundo,” she added.

The response from the Supreme Court was warm, heated even. Supreme Court spokesperson Midas Marquez was quoted as saying that the book was full of “lies” and even downplayed the death threats as “funny” and mere publicity stunts to make the book sell.

“Hindi kasi sanay ang judiciary na may nagpro-probe, may nagbubusisi,” Vitug noted. “A number of them talagang galit sa akin. Naiinis sa akin.”

Meeting halfway

Dispelling allegations from the Court that was the core subject of her book, Vitug clarified that she was very cautious in writing the book, especially with the data.

She had consistently double checked the stories shared by numerous insider sources. In the prologue of the book, Vitug explained who she interviewed and where the data came from.

“As much as possible, 'yung descriptions ko, 'yung talagang nakita ko, chineck ko. Palagi kong chine-check kaya ang hirap to take liberties at magdagdag ng elements,” Vitug said.

“Facts 'yan. Ito talaga ang nangyari. Kung ide-describe mo 'yung tao, tatanungin mo siya: 'Anong naramdaman mo that time?' So subjective. But the facts remain--ito 'yung desisyon sa kaso, ganito ang reaksyon ng natalo,” she added.

Vitug, however, understands how justices see journalism. In the court, all sources are named and bared while the same does not always happen in journalism, she wrote in her book. But that doesn’t mean both institutions will forever be in conflict.

Vitug can stand by what she wrote in the book and reiterated that she is not an enemy of the court.

“Para sa akin, let’s meet halfway. Let’s understand each other's culture kasi may kultura ang journalists na hindi maintindihan ng justices. Kami rin hindi namin maintindihan ang lahat ng mundo nila, culture nila,” she said.

Living to tell a story

Vitug admitted getting attracted to projects that are considered “firsts” or trailblazers. Her first book, "The Politics of Logging: Power from the Forest", was also the first book to connect politicians and the environment.

She was even sued for libel in one of the articles that appeared in the book.

But despite her reputation as a fearless journalist, Vitug admitted that she gets scared of death threats and there are stories that she would not do, especially those that would kill her.

“Alam mo, kung ang isang storya ay ikakamatay ko, hindi ko gagawin kasi I want to live to tell more stories,” she said.

When asked why journalists, especially those involved in investigative journalism, continue to write stories that partly endanger their personal safety, Vitug said it is in any journalist's blood.

“Alam mo, iyan ang nature of the beat, 'yung investigative journalist, to go where there is dark, kung saan mo gustong maglagay ng ilaw. Ang trabaho ng journalist is to keep asking questions. Kung lagi kang may tanong, you might get answers. Baka may solution. Somebody would unearth something,” she explained.

“Tuloy-tuloy kang nagsusulat. Hindi mo na naiisip na nasa dangerous territory ka kasi part na 'yun,” she added.

But despite the controversies and corruptions she has unearthed in her decades of being a journalist, Vitug never became cynical.

“Hindi ako nagiging cynical. Hindi ako jaded,” she said. “Hindi ko nga naisip eh [na mahal ko ang bayan na ito]. Ang naisip ko lang, mahal ko ang trabaho ko. May publiko diyan. Hindi ko naisip na makakatulong sa malaking community.”

Vitug’s next project is a book on a safe topic, she shared.

She also advised young journalists to never lose the passion, humility, and curiosity for the job.

“Yung mga young journalists, sana 'wag mawalan ng curiosity at ng humility, 'yung you can ask the most basic questions na hindi nahihiya. Pwede ka din magkamali kaya you have to be humble. Kung masipag ka, may humility, lalabas na lang 'yung courage,” she said. -- With ABS-CBN News, ANC