Radio Anchor Fatally Shot in His Studio in Southern Philippines
A shocking and brazen attack unfolded in the southern Philippines as a radio anchor was fatally shot in his own studio. The incident was witnessed by people who were watching the program live on Facebook.
According to the police, the gunman gained entry to the home-based radio station of Juan Jumalon, also known as DJ Johnny Walker, by pretending to be a listener. During a live morning broadcast in Calamba town, Misamis Occidental province, the attacker shot Jumalon twice.
After the shooting, the assailant snatched the victim’s gold necklace before fleeing on a motorcycle with an accomplice who had been waiting outside. Authorities are currently conducting an investigation to identify the gunman and determine if the attack was work-related.
The Philippines has long been notorious for being one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr strongly condemned the shooting, declaring that he had ordered the national police to track down, arrest, and prosecute the killers.
Marcos emphasized that attacks on journalists would not be tolerated in the country’s democracy. He vowed that those who threaten the freedom of the press would face the full consequences of their actions.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, a press freedom watchdog, stated that Jumalon was the 199th journalist to be killed in the country since 1986. This is when democracy was restored after a popular uprising toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the father of the current president.
The watchdog further condemned the attack, highlighting the fact that it occurred at Jumalon’s own home, which also served as the radio station. The organization expressed deep concern over the continuing threats faced by journalists in the Philippines.
A video of the attack has surfaced, revealing Jumalon, 57, pausing and looking upward before two shots ring out. He slumps back in his chair as background music plays on. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead while being transported to the hospital.
The attacker did not appear on the Facebook livestream, and authorities are currently reviewing security camera footage from Jumalon’s house and neighboring properties for any leads.
This incident brings to mind the horrific mass killing in 2009, where members of a powerful political clan and their associates gunned down 58 people, including 32 media workers, in Maguindanao province. It was the deadliest single attack on journalists in recent history.
While the motive behind that tragedy was rooted in a violent electoral rivalry, it shed light on the dangers faced by journalists in the Philippines. The country’s issues with unlicensed guns, private armies controlled by influential clans, and weak law enforcement in rural areas all contribute to the security concerns faced by journalists in this impoverished nation.