3 suspects in Misamis Occidental radioman’s slay identified

Malacañan Palace—THE Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) announced a breakthrough in the ongoing probe on the killing last November 5, 2023, of Calamba, Misamis Occidental, broadcaster, Juan ‘DJ Johnny Walker’ Jumalon, with the identification of the three suspects behind the incident.

In his report to Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, PTFoMS Executive Director Usec. Paul M. Gutierrez identified the suspects thru their aliases as ‘Ricky,’ ‘Boboy’ and ‘Inteng.’

“The diligent and continuing effort by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in pursuing this case demonstrate the serious and unrelenting determination by the Marcos administration to bring the perpetrators to justice while sending out a clear message that any violence against any member of the press would not go unpunished,” said Gutierrez.

Created under Administrative Order No. 1, series of 2016, the PTFoMS is the only government agency in the world dedicated to addressing all violence against the life, liberty, and security of all members of the media.

Quoting from his discussions with P/MGen. Eric Noble, chief the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detection Management (DIDM) and P/Col. Dwight Monato, Misamis Occidental police director and ‘SITG DJ Johnny Walker’ ground commander, Gutierrez said cases for murder and theft have been filed at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against the suspects.

Information reaching the task force indicate the suspects have been sighted in Misamis Oriental and Zamboanga del Norte since Jumalon was killed.

Alias Ricky had already been charged as early as November 16, 2023 while the complaints for his two accomplices were filed by the SITG before the start of the long Christmas break, Monato told Gutierrez.

“We would be releasing their formal identities as soon as the cases against them have been formally elevated to the courts,” Gutierrez said. “Meanwhile, we are also readying a ‘Most Wanted’ poster against the suspects for public distribution to aid in the early resolution of this incident.”

Gutierrez added he had also forwarded to Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin a copy of Resolution 686-2023 passed by the Sangguniang Panglalawigan of Misamis Occidental last November 13, 2023 initiated by Gov. Henry Oaminal, condemning the attack on Jumalon and offering a total reward of P3.5 million for the suspects’ arrest.

This brought the total reward money to P3.7 million, including the P100,000.00 reward each offered by the PTFoMS and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

It can be recalled that Jumalon, owner of community radio 94.7 Gold FM in Calamba, was shot point blank by a gunman inside his own studio while holding his early morning broadcast on November 5, 2023, a killing that was caught live on social media and drew condemnation from no less than President Marcos Jr. The gunman also stole his gold necklace before escaping on board a motorcycle with his two accomplices.

At present, investigators are looking at 4 possible motives: land dispute, business, local politics and personal.

“Of course, until such time that the suspects or anyone of them has been arrested, that would be the time the motive would be clearly established. However, it is becoming clear that Jumalon’s killing has nothing to do with his being a member of the press,” Gutierrez said.