The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has publicly condemned the murder of radio broadcaster Juan Jumalon, suggesting a growing concern for journalist safety in the country.
Juan Jumalon, better known as “DJ Johny Walker,” was shot dead during a live broadcast from his home, which also served as his broadcasting studio for the 94.7 Calamba Gold FM show. According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), this horrifying incident marked the 199th journalist killing in the Philippines since 1986, and the fourth such killing since Marcos took office last year.
The murder, which was captured on a live stream and subsequently shared on social media platforms, has prompted Marcos to issue a stern warning. In a message shared on the social media platform X, the President vowed his commitment to protect journalists, stating that such attacks can’t be tolerated in a democratic society.
“I condemn in the strongest terms the murder of broadcaster Juan Jumalon. I have instructed the PNP to conduct a thorough investigation to swiftly 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.”
In response to the murder, NUJP’s Media Safety Office, which primarily works to monitor violence against journalists, echoed the President’s sentiment, declaring the killing a “brazen act”. Furthermore, Marcos ordered the national police force to conduct an immediate and comprehensive investigation into Jumalon’s murder, with the police subsequently announcing the formation of a special task group to coordinate the investigation.
On Monday, the police released the image of one of three identified suspects who is reported to be a middle-aged man of medium build. The law enforcement agencies expressed their solidarity with media workers and assured their support for freedom of expression. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the police informed that the investigation into the motive behind the crime is still underway.
Further reading on the topic and additional details on the incident can be found in the original article.