Suspect in killing of radio broadcaster Jumalon arrested

Slain Misamis Occidental broadcaster Juan ‘Johnny Walker’ Jumalon’s family, wife Jerrebel, children Kyla and Kyle, and friends close to them got emotional as they viewed the victim for the last time in Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte, Sunday. PHOTO BY LEAH AGONOY

Updated on April 29, 2024 at 1:47 p.m.

MANILA, Philippines — The gunman linked to the death of radio broadcaster Juan Jumalon in Misamis Occidental was arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Zamboanga Del Norte, according to the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS).

READ: PNP files murder, theft complaints vs 3 suspects in Jumalon slay

PTFoMS announced that Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga Del Norte authorities arrested the gunman around 3 a.m. on Monday.

“Combined elements of the Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga Del Norte PNP arrested the gunman in the killing of Misamis Occidental broadcaster Juan “DJ Johnny” Jumalon, at dawn today, in Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte,” the task force said in a Facebook post.

Citing a report from the Misamis Occidental Provincial Police Office, PTFoMS identified the suspect as Jolieto Dumaog Mangumpit, alias “Ricky.”

“Mangumpit is the identified gunman who shot dead Jumalon inside his residence in Brgy. DBAN (Don Bernardo A. Neri), Calamba, Misamis Occidental,” the task force revealed in a separate statement.

Jumalon, 57, also known as “DJ Johnny Walker,” was killed during a live broadcast on November 5, 2023, in Calamba town, Misamis Occidental. His house served as the location for the radio station.

PTFoMS disclosed that the suspect’s apprehension stemmed from an arrest warrant for murder issued by Presiding Judge Michael Lotao Ajoc of Misamis Occidental Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 36.

Besides the killing of Jumalon, Mangumpit, who was listed as one of the province’s most wanted criminals, also has eight other arrest warrants for murder, frustrated murder, direct assault, and violation of the anti-drug law, the task force added.

There are three suspects, including Mangumpit, linked to the death of Jumalon. The other two suspects, identified as Boboy Sagaray Bongcawel, alias “Boboy,” and Renante Saja Bongcawel, alias “Inteng,” were collared by authorities last March in Barangay Sapang Dalaga in the same province.

The task force likewise revealed that these two were “accomplices” or “cousins” of Mangumpit. All three are facing murder and theft complaints filed by the PNP before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office of Misamis Occidental on November 8 last year.