Warrants Awaited for Suspects in Radio Anchor’s Killing

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) is anticipating the imminent release of arrest warrants for the suspects implicated in the assassination of Juan ‘DJ Johnny Walker’ Jumalon, a community radio station owner and anchor, as the Regional Trial Court of Misamis Occidental gears up for legal proceedings.

Jumalon, the voice behind Gold 94.7 FM, fell victim to a brutal crime on November 5, 2023. His tragic demise was captured live during his broadcast in the town of Calamba, sparking national outrage and a rigorous manhunt.

Usec. Paul M. Gutierrez, the executive director of PTFoMS, conveyed that following the affirmation by Provincial Prosecutor Dickie B. Gongob, charges for murder and theft are set to proceed, hinged on a “reasonable certainty of conviction.” Gutierrez cited a directive by Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla mandating stringent prosecutorial scrutiny to avoid weak or frivolous cases, thus ensuring justice is served robustly and rightfully.

“We are confident that justice would be soon served to Jumalon and his family,” Gutierrez stated, assuring the public and the victim’s kin of the government’s dedication to this cause.

The PTFoMS chief reiterated the identities of the suspects known as ‘Ricky,’ ‘Inteng,’ and ‘Boboy,’ with the latter two facing murder charges, and ‘Ricky’ also being accused of theft. Official disclosure of their full identities awaits the court’s issuance of arrest warrants.

The heinous act against Jumalon, who was mercilessly shot while on-air by an intruder wielding a .45 caliber pistol, has been linked to ‘Ricky,’ who is alleged to be a former combatant of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) with multiple outstanding warrants for grave offenses.

In a concerted effort to expedite justice, PTFoMS, in collaboration with the Apo Production Unit, has disseminated 70,000 wanted flyers to aid in the manhunt, with a significant batch distributed throughout Misamis Occidental and adjacent regions. The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has also pledged to circulate these flyers across the nation’s ports, particularly in Mindanao, featuring a computer-generated sketch of ‘Ricky’ and details of a P3.7 million bounty for the arrest of the suspects.

This crime, which directly challenges the freedom of press and safety of media personnel in the Philippines, has drawn the highest level of attention from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., mandating a relentless pursuit by law enforcement to bring the perpetrators to justice.