MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL — The government, through the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), expects justice to the family of slain broadcaster, Juan "DJ Johnny Walker" Jumalon to be delivered by the end of the year, on the first year of his death.
Broadcaster Juan Jumalon also known as "DJ Johnny Walker."
This was the assessment of Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez, PTFoMS executive director, after personally attending the court hearing for two of the arrested suspects at the Calamba Regional Trial Court last May 9, 2024 and conferring later with Jumalon’s widow, Jerrebel, and the members of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) DJ Johnny Walker.
With the assistance from Misamis Occidental Police Director P/Col. Dwight Monato who is also SITG ground commander, Gutierrez immediately proceeded to the Calamba RTC on his arrival from Manila to witness the ongoing trial involving suspects Boboy Bongcawel and his cousin, Renante Bongcawel.
Boboy has been identified as the backup gunman while Renante as the driver of their getaway motorcycle. The two were arrested by the police last March 15, 2024.
The third suspect and triggerman, Joelito Mangumpit, fell to the authorities last April 29, 2024, in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte. He is expected to be arraigned before the court on May 30, 2024.
With Mangumpit’s arrest, all the suspects who directly participated in the killing of Jumalon last November 5, 2023, have been rounded up by the SITG. The creation of the SITG is part of the existing mechanism of the PTFoMS to immediately respond to all incidents of media killings.
Jumalon was anchoring his regular morning show at 94.7 Gold Mega FM radio station at his house when he was shot dead by Mangumpit. The killing was widely condemned as it was caught live on air.
“Based on the calendar of court hearings announced by the Hon. Judge Michael Ajoc, presiding judge of Branch 36 and barring unexpected developments, we look forward to seeing the conclusion of this case as early as October or by end of the year, at the latest, which is just one year after Jumalon was killed,” Gutierrez declared.
“To my mind, this would be the swiftest trial involving suspects in the killing of a media practitioner under any administration and affirms President Marcos Jr.’s promise to the Jumalon family and the media community to bring to justice the perpetrators behind this heinous crime,” the official added. “We thank the court for the speedy trial.”
Gutierrez also commended the Misamis Occidental Police Office for continuously providing security to the family of Jumalon up to this time and for securing vital witnesses to the incident.
The official likewise commended Provincial Prosecutor Dickie Gongob and case lead prosecutor Sir Grego Dumalagan for ensuring that the government would have a tight case against the suspects.
“The personal commitment and assurance of our prosecutors in this case gave us further confidence that justice would be given to Jumalon,” Gutierrez said.
“Once again, the cooperative and selfless efforts shown by the respective government agencies in the Jumalon case under the PTFoMS highlighted the Marcos administration’s commitment not only to press freedom and the rule of law but more importantly, the importance of working together to get the result that we all want — the delivery of justice,” he added.
Gutierrez also turned over to the two informants who tipped the authorities on the whereabouts of the suspects, the P200,0000 reward money promised by the PTFoMS and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission headed by Usec. Gilbert Cruz. The turnover of the reward money at the Calamba Police Office was witnessed by Col. Monato.
The Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental headed by Gov. Henry Oaminal Sr., had also announced a total reward of P3.5 million for those who can help solve the murder of Jumalon.
Gutierrez likewise presented to Col. Monato a token of appreciation from the PTFoMS for his command’s unswerving commitment to its duty as enforcers of the law and as a reliable partner of the task force in going after the killers of Jumalon.