MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – One is called an attorney because he or she has passed the bar.  One is called a doctor, nurse, engineer or CPA after passing a licensure exam.

What about an investigative journalist?

Currently, there is no professional exam for Filipinos wanting to become investigative journalists — or even just plain journalists.

So when Raïssa Robles claims to be an “investigative journalist,” it is pretty much self-proclaimed, unverified, undocumented.

Well, that’s going to change very soon.

The Adobo Chronicles has learned that the Philippines’ Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) will start licensing investigative journalists. It would require aspiring investigative reporters to take and pass a government exam just like most professionals in the country.

Robles has registered her protest with the PRC, claiming that at her age and in this stage of her fading career, it would be difficult for her to pass the exam.  She is requesting PRC that her self-proclaimed status as an investigative journalist be ‘grandfathered,’ meaning that she be granted exemption from the required professional exam.

PCOO Asec Mocha Uson and blogger Thinking Pinoy are filing a counter protest against Robles’ protest.  Both welcome the professionalization of investigative journalism.