Calamba, Misamis Occidental court junks murder raps vs. 3 over Jumalon slay

A court in Calamba, Misamis Occidental has dismissed the murder charges filed against three individuals over the killing of broadcaster Juan “DJ Johnny Walker” Jumalon in April 2024.

In an order dated March 18, the Calamba Regional Trial Court (RTC) acquitted Jolito Mangompit, Reynante Saja Bongcawel, and Boboy Sagaray Bongcawel for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The court also directed the jail warden of the Misamis Provincial Jail-Oroquieta City to release Reynante Bongcawel and Baboy Bongcawel from detention.

It also ordered the transfer of Mangompit to the Correctional and Rehabilitation Center in Zamboanga in connection with a separate attempted murder and murder case.

“When a wrong person is brought to trial, it not defeats the several purposes of our criminal justice system but rubs a grain of salt into the wounds sustained by the grieving family of the murdered victim,” the court said.

“May the authorities exert all their efforts, time, and money to look after the real killers and mastermind of the calloused murder of Juan T. Jumalon and give his family the justice they deserve,” it added.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) said it would explore legal remedies to bring justice to the victim and his family. 

“The ruling was reportedly based on insufficient evidence and failure to prove the identity of the accused. While we fully respect the independence of the judiciary and the legal process that led to this verdict, we understand that this outcome may raise significant questions and concerns, particularly from the media community and among the loved ones of Juan Jumalon,” said PTFOMS in a statement.

“The PTFOMS will review the case proceedings in close coordination with the Department of Justice to assess aspects of the investigation and trial. We will explore all legal remedies available to bring the perpetrators to justice and will not allow this case to end without exhausting every means to establish accountability for this heinous crime,” it added.

Jumalon was shot dead in November 2023 while he was doing a live broadcast on 94.7 Gold FM at his house in Calamba, Misamis Occidental.

Mangompit was nabbed in April 2024 in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte while his alleged accomplices, cousins Boboy and Renante Bongcawel, were arrested in March 2024 in Sapang Dalaga town, Misamis Occidental. — with Vince Angelo Ferreras/RSJ/VBL, GMA Integrated News