Head of UNESCO condemns third murder of Filipino journalist in recent days

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today denounced the killing of Mario Sy, the third Filipino journalist gunned down in recent days, and urged a thorough investigation into the killing.

“I condemn the murder of Mario Sy,” said the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova.

Mr. Sy, a freelance photo contributor to Sapol News Bulletin newspaper, was shot on 1 August by an unidentified man who entered his house in the province of South Cotabato.

The killing comes two days after the double murder of Bonifacio Loreto and Richard Kho, columnists for a weekly tabloid newspaper, Aksyon Ngayon.

“It is very alarming to see three journalists killed in the space of two days and I urge the authorities to do all in their power to bring the culprits of these crimes to justice,” Ms. Bokova said.

According to media and police reports, on 30 July, Mr. Loreto and Mr. Kho were shot several times by two assailants on motorcycles as they talked in front of a convenience store in the Quezon City neighbourhood of the capital, Manila.

The journalists are remembered on the dedicated UNESCO webpage, ‘UNESCO Condemns Killing of Journalists.’