UNESCO chief urges culprits in murder of Filipino journalist be brought to justice

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom has condemned the latest murder of a journalist in the Philippines and called for the perpetrators of the crime to be brought to justice.

Radio journalist Godofredo Linao was shot on 27 July by two unidentified men near the offices of Radyo Natin, where he worked as a commentator, in Surigao del Sol province on southern Mindanao Island.

“Journalists in the Philippines have been made to pay an intolerably heavy price to exercise the basic human right of freedom of expression and to inform all Philippines citizens of events affecting their society,” Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said in a news release.

“I trust that the authorities will spare no effort in bringing to justice the culprits of these crimes, which undermine the rights and freedoms of all the citizens of the Philippines,” he added.

The manager of Radyo Natin reportedly said that Mr. Linao may have been targeted for his political broadcasts. He was involved in local politics and was due to run as a candidate in the 2010 elections.

The attack follows a similar incident in early June in which Crispin Perez, a journalist who hosted a morning programme on Radio DWDO in the central Philippine province of Western Mindoro, died near his home in San Jose after being stabbed by an unknown attacker.