3 Jumalon killing accused acquitted

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Calamba, Misamis Occidental dismissed the murder charges against three individuals allegedly responsible for the 2023 shooting death of broadcaster Juan Jumalon, which occurred while he was broadcasting live on Facebook from his home-based radio station in Calamba town.

In a recent ruling, Calamba RTC Branch 36 Presiding Judge Michael Ajoc determined that the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of the accused — Jolito Mangompit, Reynante Saja Bongcawel, and his cousin Boboy Sagaray Bongcawel — beyond a reasonable doubt.

The court ordered the immediate release of the Bongcawels from detention, unless they were being held for other reasons. Mangompit, meanwhile, was ordered transferred to the custody of the Zamboanga del Norte Correctional and Rehabilitation Center in connection with two separate attempted murder and murder cases.

The court emphasized that bringing the wrong individuals to trial undermines the justice system and exacerbates the grief of the victim’s family.

“May the authorities exert all their efforts, time, and resources to find the real killers and masterminds behind the callous murder of Juan T. Jumalon and deliver justice to his family,” the court stated.

During the trial, the defense presented testimony from the accused, except Mangompit, and nine other witnesses to support their claim that they were not present at the crime scene when Jumalon was killed.