The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, has denounced the murder of radio journalist Cornelio Pepino in the town of Dumaguete, in the province of Negros Oriental (southern Philippines), by unidentified assailants on 5 May.
“I condemn the killing of Cornelio Pepino,” said Ms Azoulay. “I call on the authorities to investigate the circumstances of this murder to ensure it does not go unpunished. The use of violence to silence journalists undermines the basic human right of freedom of expression and affects society as a whole.”
Also known as Rex Cornelio, the victim died of gunshot wounds before he was admitted to hospital. He had been the host of a programme on Original Energy 93.7 FM radio, that regularly addressed issues concerning illegal mining, corruption and governance.
UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and a range of actions, notably in the framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
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See also: UNESCO observatory of killed journalists
Media contact: Guilherme Canela De Souza Godoi, g.godoi@unesco.org