His Excellency Jose S. Brillantes,
Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Canada
130 Albert Street, Suite 606
Ontario, ON, K1P 5G4

June 23, 2010

Dear Ambassador,

I am writing on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression around the world. CJFE is deeply concerned that three Filipino journalists were killed in the space of a week.

Publisher and editorial consultant, Nestor Bedolido, was gunned down on June 19, 2010. He died on his way to hospital after being shot six times at close range by two men on a motorcycle in Digos City. On June 16, two gunmen on a motorcycle shot and killed journalist Joselito Agustin, a reporter and anchorman for the Filipino radio station CZJC Aksyon Radyo in Laoag City, in the northern province of Illocos Norte. And just two days earlier, on June 14, Desidario Camangyan of Sunshine FM Radio was shot and killed by an unidentified gunman while hosting a village singing competition in the southern province of Davao Oriental.

All three journalists are reported to have been outspoken critics of corrupt politicians during the lead up to this year's presidential elections. Post electoral violence against media workers is not new in the Philippines. Last year, 38 journalists were killed in the country; 32 of them were massacred as they accompanied electoral candidate Esmael Mangudadatu and his supporters in a convoy in the southern province of Maguindanao.

CJFE calls on the Philippine government to immediately launch investigations into the circumstances surrounding the murders of these journalists and other media workers slain in recent years and prosecute those responsible. We also urge President-elect Noynoy Aquino to reaffirm his commitment to ending the climate of impunity in media killings in the Philippines. Combating impunity and violence against the media must be a priority for the new president. We urge his government to take the steps necessary to ensure that journalists can report freely without fear of without fear of retribution.

We thank you for your attention and look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Arnold Amber, CJFE President