Radio anchor in Misamis Occidental shot dead during live broadcast

A radio anchor was killed by an unidentified gunman while he was doing a live broadcast at his own residence in Calamba, Misamis Occidental on Sunday morning.

The 57-year-old victim, identified as Juan Jumalon or “Johnny Walker,” was at his home-based radio station in Barangay Don Bernardo A. Neri when he was shot at close range, according to a report by Luisito Santos on Super Radyo dzBB.

Initial information from the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame showed that the shooting incident occurred at 5:35 a.m. while Jumalon was in the middle of his radio program on 94.7 Calamba Gold FM.

The police report also indicated that the suspect went to Jumalon’s residence intending to have an important announcement aired on the said radio station but suddenly drew his firearm and shot the radio anchor, hitting his lower lip towards the back portion of his head.

The victim was rushed to the Calamba District Hospital by his family but was pronounced dead on arrival by the duty physician.

In Jun Veneracion's Sunday 24 Oras Weekend report, the victim's wife said Jumalon had no enemies, nor had he received any death threats.

They also had no idea who the shooters were, though the local police believed these were hired assassins.

Authorities are currently conducting an investigation to determine the identity of the suspect as well as the motive for the crime.

"As to motive, sir, may apat na anggulo na tinututukan ngayon," said Calamba Municipal Police Station Officer-in-Charge Police Captain Diore Ragonio.

Checkpoints and a dragnet operation were also conducted for the possible apprehension of the perpetrator/s.

The Police Regional Office 10 said Sunday it will create a special investigation task group (SITG) to probe the fatal shooting.

“We are now actively conducting a thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators of this crime and bring them to justice. A [SITG] will be created to spearhead and coordinate the investigative efforts to facilitate the speedy resolution of the case,” PRO10 acting regional director Police Brigadier General Ricardo Layug Jr. said.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. condemned the killing and ordered the PNP to investigate the crime and apprehend the perpetrator.

“Ang ganitong walang kabihasnang pag-atake sa ating mamamahayag ay walang lugar sa isang demokratikong bansa,” said Marcos.

(This barbaric attack on our journalists has no place in a democratic country.)

Likewise, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Sunday denounced Jumalon's killing.

“The attack is even more condemnable since it happened at Jumalon's own home, which also served as the radio station,” the NUJP said in a statement.

The union said Jumalon's killing is the 199th since 1986 and the fourth under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“The killing also comes in the same week as the International Day to End Impunity For Crimes Against Journalists.,” it added. —Giselle Ombay/KG, GMA Integrated News