TACLOBAN CITY–A 57-year-old broadcaster was shot and killed while he was airing his program, with his grisly murder being seen live on social media early Sunday morning, November 5, 2023 in Calamba, Misamis Occidental.
Juan Jumalon, known as “DJ Johnny Walker”, of 94.7 Calamba Gold FM was attacked by gunmen who pretended to be guests with an urgent announcement to make on the radio.
They entered the station without provocation.
“The attack is even more condemnable since it happened at Jumalon’s own home, which also served as the radio station,” said the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines.
A video clip of the shooting has gone viral, showing Jumalon being shot twice by a suspect who also grabbed his gold necklace before fleeing the announcer’s booth.
Jumalon’s killing is the 199th since 1986 and the fourth under the watch of President Fernand Marcos Jr.
The killing also comes in the same week as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
The President immediately issued a statement, strongly condemning the killing of Jumalon.
“Such an uncivilized attack on our journalist has no place in a democratic country,” Marcos Jr. said.
He ordered the Philippine National Police to conduct “a thorough investigation to catch and hold accountable whoever is behind this heinous crime.”
“You can count on our close attention to bring justice to his murder,” Mr. Marcos said.
As this developed, the Misamis Occidental Police said they had already identified two suspects involved in Jumalon’s murder.
Police are looking into three to four possible motives for the shooting.
“I am shocked and I am in grief… Having known this man as a fearless broadcaster, I share the grief of his family and the people of my province for we lost a truth crusader,” said Misamis Occidental Governor Henry Oaminal.
Paul Gutierrez, the undersecretary of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, called the police for the immediate activation of a special investigation task group to probe the radio anchor’s murder.
“We also call on our colleagues in the media and the public not to resort to any speculation or make baseless accusations that can only distract our investigators on the true motive for the attack on Jumalon,” Gutierrez said.
(RONALD O. REYES)
