UNESCO condemns Sumera murder

MANILA, Philippines - The head of a United Nations agency defending press freedom has condemned the recent murder of radio news anchor Marlina Flores-Sumera and urged that her killers be brought to justice.

Sumera, 45, was shot dead as she left her home in Malabon City on March 24 to go to radio station dzME in Caloocan to host her show, “Arangkada 1530.”

“The killing of journalists is a severe attack on the basic human right of free expression and on society’s freedom to engage in informed debate,” said Irina Bokova, director general of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), who learned of the murder during her recent visit to the Philippines.

She said that during her visit, she saw firsthand “the government’s firm commitment to a human rights-based approach to development. This is about fulfilling basic needs like health and education, but also about guaranteeing the right to freedom of expression.”

“I trust the authorities, who made it very clear that there would be no impunity for such crimes, will spare no effort in bringing those responsible for the murder of Marlina Flores-Sumera to justice,” she added.

The Paris-based UNESCO has been a key partner in media development in the Philippines, where it pioneered the establishment and growth of community radio in the early 1990s.