President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday ordered the Philippine National Police to immediately apprehend and bring before the bar of justice those responsible for the cold-blooded killing of a radio anchor on Sunday morning.

Marcos called for a thorough investigation as he condemned the killing of Juan Jumalon, better known as "DJ Johnny Walker" in his Cebuano-language radio program on 94.7 Calamba Gold FM.

The 57-year-old victim was shot dead while he was broadcasting live on radio and social media from his home studio in Barangay Don Bernardo Neri, Calamba town, province of Misamis Occidental.

At least two men, both wearing baseball caps, were seen on closed-circuit television footage forcibly entering the compound of Jumalon's house. One of the suspects held at gunpoint the man who opened the gate of the victim's house before the other went into the studio.

CCTV and live social media footage then showed the gunman darting into the studio and pumping two shots at Jumalon, one hitting him in the lower lip and the other on top of the head.

Jumalon, who was discussing the recently concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, slumped on his chair, fatally wounded. The gunman then took his necklace. His family rushed him to the Calamba District Hospital, where Jumalon was pronounced dead on arrival.

Rule of law

The President emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that the perpetrators of Jumalon's murder are made to face the full extent of their actions.

"This senseless attack on our journalists has no place in a democratic nation," Marcos said as he expressed condolences to the family and loved ones of Jumalon. He ordered the police to investigate the killing thoroughly.

The Police Regional Office 10 said on Sunday that it will set up a special investigation task group, or SITG, to investigate Jumalon's shooting.

"We are now actively conducting a thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators of this crime and bring them to justice," PRO10 acting regional director P/Brig. Gen. Ricardo Layug Jr. said.

"Let us stand united against violence and work towards a society where freedom of expression and the press is respected and protected," he added.

Police corporal Paul Guigayoma of the Calamba municipal police station said that the two shooters showed up on foot at the radio station around 5:35 a.m., just as the victim was starting his show.

'Work-related'

P/Capt. Deore Ragonio, police chief of Calamba, said the suspects gained entry to the compound by pretending to want to make an on-air announcement.

"They knew their way around because they opened the iron gates and barged inside the radio station," Guigayoma said, adding that the studio was in a small room in front of Jumalon's house.

Jumalon's killing was the latest in a long list of journalists killed in the country numbering 199 since 1986. He is the fourth journalist to be slain since President Marcos took office in June of 2022, the National Union of Journalists said, condemning "the brazen killing."

The head of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security condemned the "dastardly attack" and called for the formation of a police task force to probe the killing.

"While the motive is yet to be determined, we consider this incident as 'work-related' for the moment," Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez said in a statement.

Ragonio said police were investigating a motive for the killing. They were not aware of any previous threats against Jumalon's life.

"He tackles mostly current events and is not known to have criticized anyone in his broadcasts," Ragonio told AFP.

The broadcasts are also aired on the station's Facebook page, which has 2,400 followers.

Misamis Occidental acting provincial police director P/Col. Dwight Monato said the attack happened at about 5:30 a.m. before sunrise. Jumalon was also employed with the water district of the town.                              

With AFP