Director-General condemns killing of Philippines Radio journalist Ernesto Rollin

Paris, 27 February

The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, today condemned the killing of Philippines radio journalist Ernesto Rollin who was shot dead in Mindanao on 23 February.

“I condemn the murder of Ernesto Rollin,” the Director-General said. “This killing is a blow to freedom of the press, to the basic human right of freedom of expression and to democracy, which cannot flourish in the absence of these two freedoms. I trust that the investigation launched into this crime will enable the authorities to bring the culprits to trial.”

Ernesto Rollin, 40, hosted a popular current affairs programme on local radio DxSY-AM in Ozamiz City, on the southern island of Mindanao. He was on his way to work when two masked men shot him at close range.

This is the first murder of a journalist this year in the Philippines, but the 99th such killing since the country’s return to democracy in 1986.

UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom. Article 1 of its Constitution requires the Organization to “further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.” To realize this purpose the Organization is required to “collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples, through all means of mass communication and to that end recommend such international agreements as may be necessary to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image…”

• Author(s):Press Release N°2009-17
• Source:UNESCOPRESS
• 27-02-2009