Juan Jumalon, a radio host, was on Sunday, November 5 shot dead during a live show in the southern Philippines.
Jumalon, also known as “DJ Johnny Walker,” was shot by unidentified assailants in a daring attack.
The incident happened at around 5:35 a.m. when the perpetrator entered the station and shot Jumalon in the face, according to a statement from the Misamis Occidental Police Department. He was pronounced dead in hospital, it said.
Sunday’s livestream is no longer on Facebook but video clips of the incident circulating online show Jumalon pausing and looking away from the camera before two apparent gunshots are heard.
The police identified three suspects linked to the attack while launching investigations to establish the motive.
The attack attracted countrywide condemnation led by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
“The attack is even more condemnable since it happened at Jumalon’s own home, which also served as the radio station,” it said, adding that Jumalon is the fourth media worker killed since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. came to power last June.
President Marcos condemned the attack and said he had ordered the Philippine National Police to thoroughly investigate Jumalon’s death and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Attacks on journalists will not be tolerated in our democracy, and those who threaten the freedom of the press will face the full consequences of their actions,” Marcos said in a statement on X.
The Philippines, which is known to be one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists, is ranked 132 of 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Press Freedom Index.
Other stakeholders called on the government to protect journalists from the brazen attacks.
