3 suspects in murder of Misamis Occ. broadcaster identified

The three suspects behind the killing of radio broadcaster Juan “DJ Johnny Walker” Jumalon in Misamis Occidental province have been identified by authorities.Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) executive director Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez, in a statement Monday, identified the suspects through their aliases as “Ricky,” “Boboy” and “Inteng,” who all remained at-large.The computer-generated sketches of the suspects were included in Gutierrez’s report submitted to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Velicaria Garafil.Jumalon, owner of community radio 94.7 Gold FM in Calamba town, was shot point-blank by an assailant inside his studio at his residential compound while holding his early morning broadcast on Nov. 5, 2023.

Investigators were currently looking at four possible motives: land dispute, business, local politics and personal.

“Of course, until such time that the suspects or anyone of them has been arrested, that would be the time the motive would be clearly established. However, it is becoming clear that Jumalon’s killing has nothing to do with his being a member of the press,” Gutierrez said.

Jumalon’s programs mainly promoted his JW products, such as liniment oil, whitening soap, herbal soap and many others. Colleagues also said earlier that he did not attack personalities on-air and just read greetings from his listeners.

Jumalon was the fourth journalist to be killed under the Marcos administration following radio hosts Rey Blanco in Negros Oriental on Sept. 18, 2022; Percival “Percy” Mabasa in Las Piñas City on Oct. 3, 2022; and Cresenciano “Cris” Bunduquin in Oriental Mindoro on May 31, 2023.

Sightings

Gutierrez said information reaching the PTFoMS indicated the suspects in Jumalon’s killing have been sighted in Misamis Oriental and Zamboanga del Norte provinces since the broadcaster was killed.

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“We would be releasing their formal identities as soon as the cases against them have been formally elevated to the courts,” he said.

Authorities have offered a total of P3.7 million for the arrest of the suspects.

Gutierrez said complaints for murder and theft have been filed against the suspects at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in November and December last year, quoting Maj. Gen. Eric Noble, chief of the Philippine National Police-Directorate for Investigation and Detection Management, and Col. Dwight Monato, Misamis Occidental police director. INQ