MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has assured the family of slain Misamis Occidental broadcaster Juan Jumalon, known as DJ Johnny Walker, that law enforcement agencies are exerting all efforts to capture the assailants.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) led by Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez visited the wake of Jumalon in Calamba town on Saturday and conveyed Marcos’ condolences to the family.
Jumalon was buried yesterday in a cemetery in Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte.
Gutierrez also turned over financial assistance amounting to P350,000 to Jumalon’s wife Joreebel, and children Stephen Kyle and Kyla.
The financial assistance came from Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The Speaker has condemned the killing.
“No matter what the motive is behind this killing, the Philippine media lost another one of its members. We don’t want this to keep on happening,” Romualdez said.
“We in Congress will take concrete steps to ensure that every member of the fourth estate is protected from these senseless killings. They must not live in fear just because of their chosen profession,” he added.
Gutierrez said Marcos directed law enforcement agencies to give justice to the family of Jumalon.
“More than the expression of sympathy and the granting of financial support, what we are after here is justice for the victim through the apprehension of the identified suspect and his confederates, leading to the unmasking of the mastermind,” Gutierrez said in a statement.
“This is the instruction of the President and I am glad to note that our law enforcement bodies are exerting effort to give justice to the Jumalons,” he said.
Gutierrez said there are promising leads in the investigation into the killing of the radioman.
“The leads and possible motives being pursued by investigators are showing promising results, pointing to a faster resolution of this incident,” he said.
On Nov. 8, the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Johnny Walker filed with the Misamis Occidental Prosecutor’s Office murder and theft complaints against one of three assailants.
The task group also released a computer-generated sketch of the suspect’s face.
On Saturday, Gutierrez met with Misamis Occidental police director Col. Dwight Monato in Oroquieta City to discuss the progress of the investigation conducted by the SITG Johnny Walker.
The PTFoMS said at least three witnesses identified the suspect, who is said to be a contract killer.
“We have the name and background of one of the three suspects. This is a good starting point in any investigation,” the PTFoMS quoted Monato as telling Gutierrez.
A total of P3.7 million in reward money has been offered in exchange for any information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects.
Jumalon, who owned the community radio station 94.7 Gold FM, was broadcasting live in the family’s compound when the assailant barged into the announcer’s booth and shot him twice at close range on Nov. 5.
Jumalon was the fourth journalist to be killed since Marcos took office in June 2022, reports said. — Delon Porcalla