Media groups condemned the killing of another broadcaster, the fourth under the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. presidency.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) in a statement said it condemns the brazen killing of Juan Jumalon, also known as DJ Johnny Walker, of 94.7 Calamba Gold FM in Calamba, Misamis Occidental Sunday morning, November 5.
Jumalon, 57, was shot by still unidentified attackers while he was airing his program at about 5:35 AM.
NUJP said the attack is even more condemnable as it happened inside the victim’ own home that also served as the radio station.
The Pampanga Press Club (PPC) also condemned Jumalon’s murder, saying the attack is “dastardly”.
“While this latest violence against media had taken place in Mindanao, we believe that the protection of media practitioners — similar to the expression of solidarity — should know no bounds, thus, must be of primordial concern of everyone. We appeal to authorities to bring to justice the perpetrators of this dastardly act,” PPC said.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) meanwhile called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the immediate activation of a special investigation task group (SITG) to investigate the murder.
Jumalon’s killing was caught on a live stream of his show. It showed the victim being shot twice by the suspect who also grabbed his gold necklace before fleeing the crime scene.
Jumalon was declared dead on arrival (DOA) at the Calamba District Hospital.
The latest media killing is the 199th since 1986 and the fourth under the present administration, the NUJP said.
Earlier, Renato Blanco was killed on September 18,2022 in Mabinay, Negros Occidental; Percival Mabasa was killed in Las Pinas City on October 3, 2022; and Cresenciano Bunduquin was murdered in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro last May 31.
Jumalon’s killing also comes in the same week as the International Day to End Impunity For Crimes Against Journalists observed last November 2.
The Global Impunity Index placed the Philippines as the 8th most dangerous country for journalists. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
