A horrifying act of violence occurred in the southern Philippines city of Calamba when a radio journalist, Juan Jumalon (“DJ Johnny Walker”), was fatally shot during a Facebook livestream from his home studio on the morning of November 5, 2023.
The assailant, masquerading as an audience member, gained access to Jumalon’s home studio and shot him twice, the entire act being witnessed by numerous shocked viewers on the live stream. Following the act, the attacker stole Jumalon’s gold necklace and escaped with an accomplice on a motorcycle. Notably, CCTV footage reported by the New York Times revealed two men entering Jumalon’s home with a third person keeping watch outside.
Despite being rushed to the hospital, the 57-year-old Jumalon was confirmed dead upon arrival. Regrettably, he became the 199th journalist to be murdered in the Philippines, a country notorious for its hostility towards media professionals since 1986.
Condemning the murder, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed the Philippine National Police to launch an exhaustive investigation to bring the culprits to justice. His administration reiterated their stance on combating threats against journalists, pledging their continued effort to uphold media safety in the country.
Jumalon was a well-recognized figure in local broadcast journalism, valued highly for his insightful contributions. His sudden loss has stricken the local community and global journalism fraternity with profound grief and shock, sparking calls from media organizations for urgent reforms to protect journalists and curb the cycle of violence. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) appealed to the local authorities to investigate whether Jumalon was targeted because of his profession.
