Director-General urges Philippine authorities to investigate double journalist murder in Manila

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova condemned the murder of Philippine journalists Richard Kho and Bonifacio Loreto in the capital, Manila, on 30 July. Both reporters were columnists for the Aksyon Ngayon, a weekly tabloid newspaper.

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2013-08-05

According to media and police reports, the men were shot several times by two assailants on motorcycles as they chatted in front of a convenience store in the Quezon City neighborhood.

“The murders of Richard Kho and Bonifacio Loreto must not go unpunished,” the Director-General said. “I urge the authorities in the Philippines to do their utmost to bring those responsible for this crime to justice.

“The murder of a journalist is a direct attack against the basic right of freedom of expression, and society’s right to access information. It requires a swift response to show those who would use fear and violence to silence the media that such acts will not be tolerated.”

Three journalists have now been killed in the Philippines in 2013. They are remembered on UNESCO’s dedicated web site UNESCO Condemns the Killing of Journalists.

Source: UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization

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