The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday released a composite sketch of the man who shot and killed radio anchor Juan Jumalon while he was live-streaming his program in Calamba town, Misamis Occidental on Sunday.
At the same time, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is already investigating the case, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said, adding that he expected an initial report in 24 hours.
“It’s very sad. I cannot imagine this happening just like that. It’s really gruesome and it’s difficult to believe that it actually happened. So we will not allow this to go unresolved and we will do everything to get the perpetrator or perpetrators. We will also determine the real motive behind this killing,” Remulla said in a press briefing.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said that based on the composite sketch, the suspect was 5’5 to 5’6 tall, about 40 years old, with a brown complexion.
The suspect was wearing a red hat, a green shirt, and black shorts when the crime was committed.
CCTV footage showed a second man had entered Jumalon’s home with the killer.
Jumalon, also known as DJ Johnny Walker of Calamba Gold FM 94.7, was shot inside his home studio in Purok 2, Barangay Don Bernardo A. Neri around 5:35 a.m. on Sunday, while live streaming the program “Pahapyod sa Kabuntangon.”
He was declared dead on arrival at Calamba District Hospital.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. condemned the attack against Jumalon.
“It was a direct assault on press freedom and to a greater extent on our democracy. Upon the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., the PNP has already activated Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) ‘Johnny Walker’ to run after and send the perpetrators behind bars,” Abalos said in a statement.
“We expect to have breakthroughs in this case at the soonest time possible. We extend our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family of Mr. Jumalon,” he added.
Meanwhile, DOJ Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavano said the NBI received information on the case early and is working on leads to find the unidentified gunman.
The DOJ official said the bureau is also coordinating with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security.
The Police Regional Office 10 has said that it will create a special investigation task force to investigate the fatal shooting.
Earlier, President Marcos condemned the killing and ordered the PNP to investigate the crime and arrest the perpetrator.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday condemned Jumalon’s murder, saying journalists should be able to do their job without fear for their safety.
“The freedom of the press is a cornerstone of our democracy,” Romualdez said. “Any attack or violence against members of the media is unacceptable and deeply troubling. We must ensure that those responsible for these heinous acts are brought to justice.”
To Filipino journalists: Your voices matter. Your stories matter. We stand with you and will continue to advocate for your safety and the right to perform your duties without intimidation or harm. Together, we will strive to put an end to these senseless acts of violence and uphold the sanctity of free expression in the Philippines,” Romualdez said.
Senator Mark Villar cited the need for increased protection of journalists.
He said a bill he filed to protect journalists would provide insurance coverage such as disability and death benefits, and reimbursement of medical costs for journalists and employees of media entities.
Senator Bong Revilla challenged law enforcement agencies to bring Jumalon’s killers to justice, calling the murder “an affront to our free press.”
Senator Grace Poe urged the police and military to curb the proliferation and use of unlicensed guns.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has launched a quick response operation in Region X and tasked its director to conduct an independent motu proprio investigation into the killing.
“CHR condemns this brazen act of arbitrarily depriving a person of their right to life. CHR expresses further concern as the victim was a journalist — [the] fourth killing under the current administration and 199th since 1986,” it said.
“Our independent investigation also seeks to determine if the killing is work-related. We recognize, however, the chilling effect of this violent attack that continues to make the country a dangerous place for journalists,” it added.
THE Presidential Task Force on Media Security on Monday said authorities are looking into four possible motives in Jumalon’s killing.
PTFoMS executive director Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez said the attack could be related to work, a personal dispute, politics, or a land dispute.
“First and foremost, it seems it is related to his work,” he said in a radio interview.
“The other angle is about a land dispute in their area. This matter has already reached the court,” he said.
“There is also this angle about the recent Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election,” he added.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) called on the government to strengthen the enforcement of laws protecting the media in the wake of the killing of another broadcaster.
Kath Cortez, NUJP Mindanao Safety Office Chief, said there are a lot of laws that protect the media but the enforcement of the law and the sincerity of the government to ensure that perpetrators are punished is lacking.
The government has yet to solve the death of several media practitioners killed during the Marcos administration, including Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa and Cresenciano Bunduquin.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, which released the Global Impunity Index earlier this week, “the Philippines remains a dangerous place to work as a reporter, especially for radio journalists.”
The Philippines was eighth on the list of “countries with the worst records on prosecuting killers of journalists.”