A Filipino radio journalist, Juan Jumalon, was brutally shot and killed throughout a stay broadcast at his house within the southwest Philippines early on Sunday, in line with the native authorities, who had been trying to find probably a number of attackers.
Mr. Jumalon, 57, who hosted a radio program underneath the title D.J. Johnny Walker, was livestreaming his present on Fb when a shooter entered the radio sales space simply after 5:30 a.m., the Misamis Occidental police stated in an announcement. The gunman then “with out hesitation” shot Mr. Jumalon within the face earlier than fleeing.
A particular activity group is investigating the homicide, which occurred within the city of Calamba, the Misamis Occidental police stated on Monday, releasing a digital sketch of one among three individuals probably concerned within the assault. The police described him as a person of medium construct carrying a crimson cap, a inexperienced T-shirt and black pants.
Mr. Jumalon broadcast classes of his present from a radio sales space at his house to a radio community and followers of his Fb web page, known as 94.7 Gold FM Calamba. His last livestream had disappeared from his web page as of Monday, however footage of the assault circulating on-line appeared to indicate Mr. Jumalon pausing in the course of the broadcast, earlier than two pictures rang out.
The authorities weren’t discounting that the taking pictures was associated to the journalist’s work however had been additionally exploring different motives, Colonel Dwight Monato, a police director investigating the case, stated in a information convention on Monday.
CCTV footage confirmed two gunmen getting into the house whereas a 3rd particular person stayed exterior as a lookout, in line with the information web site Rappler. The authorities stated the group fled on a motorbike.
The gunmen had gained entry to Mr. Jumalon’s house on the pretense that there was an pressing announcement to make, the governor of Misamis Occidental, Henry Oaminal, stated on Fb.
“I share the grief of his household and the individuals of my province, for we misplaced a fact crusader,” Mr. Oaminal stated, calling him a “fearless broadcaster.”
Mr. Jumalon was the fourth journalist to be killed within the Philippines since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took workplace in June 2022 and the 199th since 1986, in line with the Nationwide Union of Journalists of the Philippines, which condemned the “brazen” assault in a statement on X. “The assault is much more condemnable because it occurred at Jumalon’s own residence, which additionally served because the radio station.”
“Assaults on journalists is not going to be tolerated in our democracy,” President Marcos stated in a post on X, “and people who threaten the liberty of the press will face the total penalties of their actions.” He stated he had instructed the authorities to conduct “a radical investigation.”
A authorities media safety group stated it might supply a reward for data resulting in an arrest.
The Philippines has ranked among the many worst international locations for press freedoms, and skilled a yearslong crackdown on them fueled by the administration of Rodrigo Duterte, the previous president. Mr. Marcos took workplace final 12 months, however assaults on journalists have endured, information media organizations within the Philippines stated.
In a 2023 report, the Committee to Defend Journalists ranked the Philippines eighth on a listing of nations during which the killers of journalists had been more likely to go unpunished.
“The Philippines stays a harmful place to work as a reporter,” the group stated within the report, “particularly for radio journalists.”