Killing of Juan Jumalon
Juan "Johnny Walker" Jumalon doing his live broadcast moments before he is gunned down
LocationCalamba, Misamis Occidental
Coordinates8°33′22″N 123°38′17″E / 8.55611°N 123.63806°E / 8.55611; 123.63806
DateNovember 5, 2023 (2023-11-05)
5:22 a.m.[lower-alpha 1] (UTC+8)
Attack type
Shooting
Weapons.45 caliber pistol
VictimJuan Jumalon
AssailantsUnknown
No. of participants
3

Juan Tumpag "Johnny Walker" Jumalon[4] (August 2, 1966 – November 5, 2023) was a Filipino radio broadcaster for 94.7 Gold Mega Calamba FM who was killed on live broadcast by an unidentified gunman at his home in Calamba, Misamis Occidental.[5]

Background

Juan "Johnny Walker" Jumalon was the second journalist to be killed in Mindanao while on-air since 1985,[6] the fourth journalist to be killed under the Bongbong Marcos administration since he took office in June 2022,[7] and the 199th overall since 1986.[8] Before his death, Jumalon regularly broadcast his radio station 94.7 Gold Mega Calamba FM through his Facebook streaming, which has around 2,400 followers.[9] According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Philippines ranked eighth for the world's most dangerous places for journalists as of 2023.[10]

Killing

On November 5, 2023, at his home in Brgy. Don Bernardo A. Neri in Calamba, Misamis Occidental, Juan Jumalon, also known on air as "Johnny Walker", broadcast his radio station 94.7 Gold Mega Calamba FM via Facebook livestream. At around 5:22 a.m. (UTC+8), two men wearing their caps showed up outside the gate of the house on a pretense to have a public announcement regarding the gunman's lost belongings.[11] After the staff agreed, one of them drew his gun and aimed at the staffer while the other proceeded to enter the radio booth, where he shot the broadcaster twice, hitting his lower lip and the back portion of his head.[8][12][13] He was 57.[6] The gunman stole the necklace before quickly fleeing with a third accomplice in a motorcycle, who acted as a lookout.[11][13][7] The killing was caught on both Facebook livestream and CCTV camera; the former showing blood oozing from Jumalon's mouth after he was shot while the lively instrumental music plays.[14] The original live broadcast of Jumalon's broadcast had been deleted but not before the netizens were able to record it.[15][6][16]

Jumalon was rushed to the hospital by the family members but was pronounced dead on arrival.[16] The family stated that they have not received any threats against Jumalon.[6] Jumalon's widow Jerrebel Jumalon believed that the motive of her husband's killing was personal grudge as the slain broadcaster focused only on entertainment on his radio program.[17] Mrs. Jumalon said that before her husband was killed, he won a case in court related to a dispute over the land where their radio station is located.[17]

Investigation

The police are yet to identify at least three suspects in the killing, including the two gunmen and a getaway driver. They are investigating whether it was work or personal-related.[12] On November 6, the police released the composite sketch of one of the suspects in killing the broadcaster.[18] Misamis Occidental police director Colonel Dwight Monato said that Jumalon had a heated argument regarding the land dispute with two people two days before his death.[11] They also added that the gunman used .45 pistol in the crime.[19] On November 8, the police said that they determined the name of one of the suspects but did not disclose as the investigation is ongoing. The three suspects were charged with murder and theft.[20]

Reactions

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. condemned the killing of Jumalon and ordered the national police to track the perpetrator.[13] Marcos Jr. added that "attacks on journalists will not be tolerated in our democracy."[12] The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the Mindanao Independent Press Council Inc. (MIPC) called the killing "brazen" and "barbaric".[12][8] The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) expressed condolences to Jumalon's family, and condemned the attack on the journalists.[7] Senators Bong Revilla and Robin Padilla called the law enforcement for the swift investigation while House Speaker Martin Romualdez was "deeply saddened" over the killing.[21]

The Human Rights Watch urged Marcos to put in place measures to prevent further deaths of journalists.[22]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Most news sources reported it between 5:30 to 5:35 a.m.[1][2] A CCTV camera of a radio booth captured the killing at the timestamp of 5:22 a.m.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Kwai, Isabella (November 6, 2023). "Filipino Radio Journalist Fatally Shot During Live Broadcast". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  2. ↑ Tuyay, Francisco; Baroña, Franco Jose C. (November 6, 2023). "Police release composite sketch of suspect in broadcaster's killing". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Broadcaster na si Juan Jumalon, pinatay sa gitna ng kaniyang live program". YouTube. PTV Philippines. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  4. ↑ Cabico, Gaea Katreena (November 5, 2023). "Misamis Occidental radio broadcaster gunned down while on air". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Pagpatay kay Juan Jumalon planado: pulisya TV Patrol". YouTube. ABS-CBN News. Note: Pause at 3:27 for his birth date.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Radioman killed while broadcasting". The Manila Times. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 "Misamis Occidental radioman shot dead". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 6, 2023. The footage showed that the suspect immediately shot Jumalon in the head, grabbed his gold necklace and fled from the scene after making sure that the broadcaster was dead.
  8. 1 2 3 "Broadcaster shot dead in Misamis Occidental while on air". Rappler. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  9. ↑ "DJ shot dead during live broadcast in Philippines". BBC News. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Philippines Archives". Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 "Police eye land dispute in broadcaster's murder in Misamis Occidental". Rappler. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Filipino radio host shot dead while live streaming at his home". CNN. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 "A Philippine radio anchor is fatally shot while on Facebook livestream watched by followers". Associated Press. Retrieved November 6, 2023 – via ABC News.
  14. ↑ "Special Investigation Task Force, bubuuin para tumutok sa imbestigasyon sa pagpatay kay Juan... BK". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Radio announcer in Misamis Occidental shot dead while on air". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  16. 1 2 "Radio anchor in Misamis Occidental shot dead during live broadcast". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  17. 1 2 "Widow sees personal grudge as motive behind radioman Jumalon's killing". GMA Integrated News. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  18. ↑ "NBI, PAOCC join probe into killing of broadcaster Juan Jumalon". Rappler. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Personal motive possibly behind killing of radio broadcaster, police say". CNN Philippines. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Murder, theft raps filed vs 3 suspects in radio anchor Jumalon's killing —PNP". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  21. ↑ "'SOLVE THE CASE' PNP assures close coordination, deep probe to ensure justice for slain broadcaster". News5. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  22. ↑ Reyes, Ronald O. (November 7, 2023). "NUJP: Filipino journalists remain at risk of assaults, harassment". SunStar. SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
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