Congratulations to Manny Mogato, Clare Baldwin and Andrew R.C. Marshall of Reuters for winning the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting of the brutal police killings in the Philippines under the Duterte regime.
I thank and salute your courage for exposing the truth behind Duterte’s murderous drug war which highlighted and aggravated the climate of fear and impunity in the country. Despite the threats and challenges, you covered the tragic stories of the victims and revealed how police death squads brazenly carried out most of the killings.
In times when fake news are proliferated for self-interest and our citizens are silenced by fear and intimidation by those in power, your stories served as a tool to enlighten people around the world and to move them to act and address the very central issues that beset the Philippine government and Philippine society.
I hope that others will also display the same passion, courage and perseverance you have in pursuing a fair, truthful and responsible reportage.
Again, congratulations! ###