Unesco head condemns murder of 3 RP journalists

MANILA, Philippines - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) yesterday condemned the recent murder of three journalists in the country.

Unesco Director General Irina Bokova urged Philippine authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“I am convinced that the authorities will not let these shameless attacks against democracy and rule of law go unpunished,” Bokova said. “Journalists and media workers make an essential contribution to debate and dialogue, they are pillars of democracy and as such they are protected by the universal human right of freedom of expression.”

Desidario Camangyan, 52, a commentator on Sunrise FM radio station in Manay town in Mindanao who criticized the local mining and timber industries, was shot dead near his home on June 14.

In less than 24 hours, Joselito Agustin, 37, a commentator on Aksyon Radyo Laoag, was shot as he was returning home. 

Last June 19, Nestor Bedolido, a reporter of the weekly tabloid Kastigador based in Mindanao, was shot six times by gunmen on board a motorcycle.

A report released earlier this month by the UN Special Rapporteur, Frank La Rue, cited the Philippines as one of the countries where the largest numbers of journalists have been killed.

Citing figures from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Unesco said 68 journalists have been killed in the Philippines since 1992.

Human rights watchdog Freedom House said the recent killings of Filipino journalists is another example that a culture of impunity prevails in the Philippines

“The recent slaying of two journalists in the Philippines is another example of the dangerous environment and culture of impunity that has made the country one of the most perilous in the world for media, with broader implications for the overall state of democracy,” Freedom House said.

According to Freedom of the Press 2010, the group’s annual survey of press freedom, the county has experienced a continuous decline in press freedom since 2004, when its ranking dropped from Free to Partly Free.

The country’s ranking dropped further in 2009 when some 30 journalists were murdered in Maguindanao in November.