Juan Jumalon, also known as “DJ Johnny Walker” of Gold FM 94.7, was doing his live broadcast on Sunday when an unidentified suspect went to his booth and shot him dead at 5:35 a.m. (Screen grab from Gold FM 94.7)
ILIGAN CITY – A local broadcaster and radio station owner was shot inside the announcer’s booth of his own radio station in Calamba town, Misamis Occidental.
The killing happened at Purok-6, Barangay Don Bernardo A. Neri in Calamba town of Misamis Occidental at around 5:35 a.m. on Sunday, November 5.
Juan Jumalon, 43, popularly known as DJ Jonny Walker, was on board on his popular Sunday program “Pa-hapyod sa Kabuntagon” when a lone gunman barged into the radio station right in the victim’s own home.
The assailant shot Jumalon through his mouth, according to Police Officer Eliver Quicio, chief investigator.
Quicio said Jumalon was the owner and station manager of 94.7 Calamba Gold FM.
The bullet slug entered the victim’s mouth and exited at the back of his head, the investigator said.
The attack was caught live on camera as the victim was live streaming his radio show online.
Jumalon’s family and police rushed the victim to Calamba District Hospital, but attending physician, Dr. Geopeter Manisan, pronounced the broadcaster dead upon arrival.
Quicio said police had set up checkpoints in Calamba town to apprehend the suspect.
Police are conducting forensic examination and investigation at the crime scene.
Based on the closed-circuit television footage secured by police, the assailant took the gold necklace of the victim before leaving the place.
National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) condemned the killing.
Jonathan De Santos, NUJP chair, said Jumalon was the 199th journalist killed since democracy was restored in 1986 and the fourth under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
What made the attack even more condemnable was that it happened right inside Jumalon’s own home, De Santos pointed out.
According to NUJP, the killing came barely three days after journalists in the country observed the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists on November 2.