By Victor Reyes and Jocelyn Montemayor
POLICE probers are looking into two possible angles behind the murder of radio broadcaster Juan Jumalon, alias Johnny Walker, last Sunday in Calamba, Misamis Occidental.
“One angle is it’s connected to his job, the other is personal (grudge),” PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. told reporters in an ambush interview at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.
Acorda declined to elaborate, pending the investigation being conducted by the newly-formed Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Johnny Walker.
“We don’t want speculations because it may preempt the investigation. We are following up some leads but I am sorry, I am not at liberty to divulge these motives or theories we are looking into,” said Acorda.
Acorda said Northern Mindanao Regional Police Director Brig. Gen. Ricardo Layug has “committed he will do their best to solve the case.”
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said investigators are looking at four possible motives in the killing of Jumalon, one of them a land ownership dispute.
PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez, during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program, said authorities are looking at the incident as work-related, due to a personal issue, possibly in relation to the recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), and a land ownership dispute.
“We are giving our investigators all the freedom to further dig into this issue, incident, and we will know all the angles,” he said.
Gutierrez said people who knew Jumalon, including members of the Mindanao Independent Press Council, felt the incident could not be work-related since they believe the broadcaster has not offended anyone based on his type of reporting or in reports that he made in the past.
He said the Department of Social Welfare and Development has extended initial assistance to the family of Jumalon.
Acorda said he has spoken with President Marcos Jr., who has ordered a thorough investigation of the incident. Marcos condemned the killing last Sunday and ordered law enforcement authorities to identify and arrest the perpetrators.
The Misamis Occidental provincial police office released yesterday a computer-generated image of one of the suspects.
“As to the perpetrators, we already have a cartographic sketch of (one of them). But as to the identities of those behind (the attack), we are not yet there,” he said.
Police described the suspect on the computer-generated image as 5-foot-5 in height; medium-built; above 40 years old; about 70 kilos in weight; with a fair complexion; wearing a red cap, green t-shirt, and black short pants.
Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the killing of Jumalon was a “deplorable and dastardly act that has no place in our society.
“It was a direct assault to press freedom and to a greater extent to our democracy,” said Abalos.
Abalos said the SITG Johnny Walker was established, upon the directive of Marcos, “to run after and send the perpetrators behind bars.
“At this point, I can confirm that the SITG has already come up with a computerized facial sketch of one of the suspects. The sketch has already been made available to the public for identification,” said Abalos.
Abalos said investigators have cross-matched the shells and slugs found at the crime scene.
“We expect to have breakthroughs in this case at the soonest time possible,” said Abalos.
Jumalon was shot dead in his residence in P-2, Barangay Don Bernardo A. Neri in Calamba while in the middle of his radio program. A video of the actual shooting has spread online as Jumalon’s show was streamed live.
One of the suspects pretended he was out to make an important announcement during Jumalon’s radio program. He later shot the victim in the lower lip, with the bullet exiting the back of the head.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said Jumalon is the fourth journalist to be slain during the administration of President Marcos Jr. and the 199th since 1986.
Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is already investigating Jumalon’s killing.
“The NBI is on the case already,” Clavano said, adding the NBI is also coordinating with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFMS) for information on the case.
8TH DANGEROUS COUNTRY
Gutierrez said Jumalon is the fifth journalist to die under the term of President Marcos Jr.
He said the first four cases have been resolved, the suspects have been identified and cases have been filed in court. He said there are, however, some suspects who remain at large.
He said the four cases involved the killings of Renato Blanco in September 2022, Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa in October 2022, Cris Bundoquin in May 2023, and Federico Gempesaw in June 2022.
Gempesaw was killed on June 29, 2022. Marcos assumed the presidency on June 30, 2022.
Gutierrez said that based on the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) 2023 Global Impunity Index, the Philippines now ranks eighth among the countries that are dangerous for journalists.
He said it is a slight improvement from the seventh place under the Duterte administration.
“And we believe that our close cooperation and transparent alliance work with all local and international organizations concerning the media would result in a further improvement of the Philippines’ ranking in the future,” he added.
Gutierrez urged journalists, especially those who have received threats or are being harassed, to coordinate with the police and other law enforcement agencies for their safety and protection.
‘REVOLTING’
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said social media platforms should stop spreading the video showing the killing of Jumalon, adding Jumalon’s death was “very revolting to the senses.”
“Social media platforms should stop allowing the video to be spread out. It’s too gruesome, too brazen, and it desensitizes people,” Remulla said.
“I cannot imagine this happening. It is shocking to the senses if you want to be graphic about it,” he added.
Remulla said the NBI is already probing the case, adding he expects the agency to submit its initial report within the next 24 hours.
“It’s very sad. I cannot imagine this happening just like that. It’s really gruesome and it’s difficult to believe that it actually happened. We will not allow this to go unresolved and we will do everything to get the perpetrator or perpetrators. We will also determine the real motive behind this killing,” Remulla said.
He disclosed there are initial theories reaching his office as to the motive behind the killing but stressed that he would rather wait for the initial report of the NBI.
“I think these theories, too soon given, may be a sort of cover in some ways, that’s why I do not want to cast judgment on any possible theory about the case, too many theories so early might not serve us well,” Remulla said.
‘WITHOUT FEAR’
Speaker Martin Romualdez said journalists deserve the right to exercise their profession “without fearing for their safety or their lives.
“Any attack or violence against members of the media is unacceptable and deeply troubling. We must ensure that those responsible for these heinous acts are brought to justice. We must ensure that those responsible for these heinous acts are brought to justice,” Romualdez said in a statement.
“To Filipino journalists: Your voices matter. Your stories matter. We stand with you and will continue to advocate for your safety and the right to perform your duties without intimidation or harm. Together, we will strive to put an end to these senseless acts of violence and uphold the sanctity of free expression in the Philippines,” he added.
‘TIGHTEN THE NOOSE’
Sen. Grace Poe yesterday asked the PNP and other concerned agencies to “tighten the noose” against holders of illegal guns in Metro Manila and other parts of the country in the wake of Jumalon’s killing.
“We want to know how the police and military are working to curb the proliferation and use of unlicensed guns. Possession of loose firearms adds to the brazenness of killers, who in past incidents have carried out the crime in homes or workplaces — spaces we thought are our safe havens,” Poe said in a statement.
She said “denying” criminals the means to carry out their “vile act” will help end the culture of impunity for crimes against journalists.
“The killing of Juan Jumalon is utterly barbaric and has no place in a civilized society. We support a thorough and swift investigation to bring the perpetrators before the law,” she added.
Sem. Ronald dela Rosa urged the regional police director of the Police Regional Office 10 and the provincial director of Misamis Oriental “to resolve this case at the soonest possible time.
“Because regardless of the real motive of the crime, people would immediately assume it to be work-related and the first group of people that we don’t want to be discouraged from doing their job is the media,” Dela Rosa said.
Jumalon was killed during the observance of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.
Sen. Mark Villar filed Senate Bill No. 2335 or the Journalists Protection Act “in light of the recent killing of a radio broadcaster while airing his program last November 5.
“I filed this bill because I recognize the hazard that comes with the journalism profession. Yet, it still comes as disheartening to know the killing of Mr. Juan Jumalon while practicing his profession,” Villar said.
Villar said the proposed bill hopes to extend help to journalists and their families in bridging the costs and burden of disabilities and death in the field of journalism.
KILLING CONDEMNED
The ambassadors of Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the European Union yesterday joined in the condemnation and calls for justice over the murder of Jumalon.
“My heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of Radio Broadcaster Juan Jumalon. Like what Presiding Bongbong Marcos said ‘attacks on journalists will not be tolerated’ since it can threaten the essence of democracy,” Japanese ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko said on X, formerly Twitter.
British Ambassador Laure Beaufils said she was shocked by Jumalon’s murder.
“I call on the Philippine authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice promptly. Free media is the cornerstone of democracy. Journalists must be able to do their jobs free of violence. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family,” Beaufils said.
EU Ambassador Luc Veron echoed the words of his counterparts, saying: “The European Union stands firm with the Philippines. Attacks on journalists are always unacceptable. I offer my condolences to Mr. Jumalon’s loved ones.”
French Ambassador Marie Fontanel and Andres Pfaffernoschke also condemned the killing.
“A Filipino journalist has been murdered. I support the strong condemnation and call for swift investigations. A constant fight against impunity is the only way to protect journalists, lawyers, or human rights defenders doing their job and hence secure democracy based on the rule of law,” Fontanel said.
Pfaffernoschke also stressed that attacks on journalists should not be tolerated.
“Germany condemns the killing of a Philippine journalist and supports President Marcos Jr’s call for a thorough investigation. Free and independent journalism is the basis of a vibrant and lively democracy. Impunity must not be tolerated,” the German envoy said. — With Ashzel Hachero, Raymond Africa, and Wendell Vigilia
