Police looking into non-work related motives behind killing of broadcaster Juan Jumalon

The police are looking into motives behind the killing of Misamis Occidental broadcaster Juan Jumalon, a.k.a. Johnny Walker, that are not related to his work.

Alma Pescador, spokesperson of the Misamis Occidental Provincial Police Office, told One PH’s One Balita Pilipinas that Jumalon had an enemy before he was shot dead.

“Hindi pa positively identified kung sino sila. Meron na tayong dalawang suspect, pero 'di pa natin tukoy kung ano talaga ang names nila,” she said.

Paul Gutierrez, Presidential Task Force on Media Safety executive director, meanwhile told state-run PTV that another angle being considered is an issue regarding the property where Jumalon worked. His residence is also the base for 94.7 Calamba Gold FM he owned and operated.

Gutierrez noted the recently concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections may also be a factor.

But citing Jumalon’s colleagues at the Mindanao Independent Press Council, he said it’s unlikely that the crime was related to his media job.

“They were the ones who described the style of Jumalon,” he said. “And while we do not discount (the possibility) that it was work-related, they were the ones who said that the angle was farfetched.”

Misamis Occidental police previously said that according to his family, Jumalon was not a “hard-hitting” broadcaster and focused on public service and advertising.

Nevertheless, the police are still conducting a deeper investigation.

Jumalon was on-air and was holding a livestream when someone shot him in the face at point-blank range twice and took his gold necklace. He died instantly.

According to two witnesses, the suspects said they were going to make an announcement about a lost wallet and keys on air. But after the gate was opened, the suspects entered with force. One went to Jumalon’s booth, while the other held one witness at gunpoint.

The National Bureau of Investigation and the Commission on Human Rights are doing separate investigations on the case. A special task force has also been formed following the death of the radioman.