A journalist was killed while running a live program
A radio presenter was fatally shot in his home in the Philippines on Sunday. The man was running a live program at the time of the incident. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the attack was connected to his profession.
9:08 AM EST, November 6, 2023
Juan Jumalon, 57, also known as "DJ Johnny Walker", was shot during a live broadcast from his home, which was aired on Facebook - according to a CNN report. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) denounced the killing in a statement issued on platform X (formerly Twitter). The attack is even more deplorable since it occurred in Jumalon's home, which also functioned as a radio station," the statement read. Additionally, it stated that Jumalon is the fourth media worker slain since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in June. Jumalon's programs, broadcasted on Facebook's 94.7 Gold Mega Calamba FM, covered a wide gamut of topics, from relationships to neighborhood issues.
According to "The Guardian," the killer allegedly infiltrated the home radio station, located in the journalist's home in Calamba, Philippines, by posing as a listener. The attacker shot Jumalon twice during the live program. The perpetrator also stole the journalist's gold necklace before fleeing on a motorcycle with a waiting accomplice, based on information from the police.
Jumalon succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The investigation is still active to identify the killer and to determine if the assault was job-related. Police have identified a minimum of three suspects, which includes two individuals who trespassed into the house plus a getaway driver, as reported by CNN, citing Philippine police commander, Captain Diore Libre Ragonio.
The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., denounced the assault on the journalist and declared that he had instructed the police to exhaustively scrutinize the circumstances of Jumalon's death and bring the culprits to book. "Attacks on journalists will not be tolerated in our democracy, and those who threaten press freedom will bear the full brunt of their actions," President Marcos pronounced through platform X (formerly Twitter). The press freedom ranking by Reporters Without Borders places the Philippines in the 132nd position, earning it the reputation as one of the most perilous places globally for journalists.
