The suspects in the killing of radio anchor Juan “DJ Johnny Walker” Jumalon in Misamis Occidental last year have been identified, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said
PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez in a report to the Department of Justice (DOJ) identified the suspects through their aliases as ‘’Ricky,’’ ‘’Boboy,’’ and ‘’Inteng.’’
‘’The diligent and continuing effort by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in pursuing this case demonstrates the serious and unrelenting determination by the Marcos administration to bring the perpetrators to justice while sending out a clear message that any violence against any member of the press would not go unpunished,” Gutierrez said in a press statement posted on the PTFoMS Facebook account.
Gutierrez said criminal complaints for murder and theft have been filed with the Misamis Occidental Provincial Prosecutor’s Office against the suspects.
Further, the task force said the suspects have been sighted in Misamis Oriental and Zamboanga del Norte since Jumalon was killed on Nov. 5 last year.
Gutierrez said authorities would be releasing the real identities of the suspects as soon as cases against them would be formally elevated to courts.
Investigators meanwhile said they are looking at four possible motives in the murder, including land dispute, business, local politics, and personal motive.
“Of course, until such time that the suspects or anyone of them has been arrested, that would be the time the motive would be clearly established. However, it is b coming clear that Jumalon’s killing has nothing to do with his being a member of the press,” Gutierrez said.
Reports said Jumalon was killed by an unidentified gunman while he was doing a live broadcast for his radio program on 94.7 Calamba Gold FM at his residence in Calamba, Misamis Occidental.
The suspect went to Jumalon’s residence pretending to have an important announcement aired on the radio station but suddenly drew his firearm and shot the radio anchor, hitting the lower lip towards the back portion of the head.
Jumalon was rushed to the Calamba District Hospital by his family but was pronounced dead on arrival by the duty physician.