Philippines: 3 journalists murdered
Event- Country
- Philippines
- Initial Date
- May 30, 2013
- Final Date
- Aug 1, 2013
- Event Description
On 30 July 2013, two journalists at the weekly tabloid Aksyon Ngayon Newspaper, Mr. Bonifacio Loreto and Mr. Richard Kho, were shot and killed by two unidentified men on motorcycles in the Quezon City neighborhood of the capital, Manila. It is reported that the two victims' criticism of corruption involving prominent politicians may have been the motive for the killings. Two days after these events, on 1 August 2013, Mr. Mario Sy, a freelance photographer, was shot twice and killed in his home in General Santos City by an unidentified man who had broken into his house. Sources further inform that Mr. Sy's photographs reported on drug trafficking for local newspapers, which may have been the reason for his assassination. Grave concerns are expressed that Messrs. Bonifacio Loreto, Richard Kho and Mario Sy were killed in connection with their journalistic activities. Further concerns are expressed that the lack of safe environment for journalists in the Philippines to perform their work independently and without undue interference, harassment and threats to their physical and psychological integrity severely restricts the right to freedom of opinion and expression. On 22 August 2013, a Joint Allegation Letter was issued by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. No response was received.
- Impact of Event
- 3
- Violation
- Killing
- Reprisal as Result of Communication
- Rights Concerned
- Right to information
- Right to life
- Source
- Monitoring Status
- Not active
- Event Location
Latitude: 10.356898080650009
Longitude: 123.07941301562153
- Event Location
- Summary for Publications
On 30 July 2013, two journalists, Mr Bonifacio Loreto and Mr Richard Kho, were killed by two unidentified men on motorcycles in the Quezon City neighbourhood in Manila. Two days later, on 1 August 2013, Mr Mario Sy, a photograph journalist, was shot in his home in General Santos City. It is alleged that the killings, which occurred within the period of two days, were related to their journalistic activities reporting on corruption cases and drug trafficking. On 22 August 2013, a Joint Allegation Letter was issued by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. No response was received.