RADIO broadcaster Juan Jumalon did not receive any death threat prior to his murder last Sunday, a police official said yesterday as investigators continued to dig deep into the case.
“He was not threatened,” Misamis Occidental Provincial Police Director Col. Dwight Monato told a television interview, referring to Jumalon, also known as Johnny Walker.
“There were no reports that indicate that prior to the incident, he received threatening information,” added Monato.
Jumalon was shot dead in his residence in P-2, Barangay Don Bernardo A. Neri in Calamba while in the middle of his radio program. A video of the actual shooting has spread online as Jumalon’s show was being streamed live.
One of the suspects pretended he was out to make an important announcement during Jumalon’s program. He later shot the victim.
Police said there were two lookouts — one inside the compound of Jumalon’s residence where the victim’s radio booth was located and the other aboard the getaway motorcycle outside the compound.
Monato said they have spoken with the wife of Jumalon, Cherebel, who confirmed her husband has not received any death threats.
Cherebel, in a radio interview, said she is not aware of any enemy of her husband, adding the victim was “friendly.”
Cherebel, however, said her husband had personal differences with some people, noting a land dispute case and business competition in the radio industry.
She expressed doubts if his husband offended people in his program, which she said is focused on entertainment, public service, and endorsement of products.
“He is not making commentary against people. His program is plain entertainment really,” said Cherebel.
Monato said Jumalon is not a hard-hitting broadcaster, noting that his radio program “is more on public service, entertainment, advertisement of products and small businesses.
“He is not a hard-hitting broadcaster, he is not making commentary and he has not tackled any critical or sensitive issues in his program,” said Monato.
Nevertheless, Monato said they are not ruling out the motive of a work-related angle.
Another angle that investigators are looking into is a personal grudge, said Monato.
Last Monday, the PNP released a computer-generated image of one of the suspects, the lookout who was inside the Jumalon compound during the murder.
Monato said the image was crafted with inputs from two witnesses.
Monato said the suspects were caught on closed-circuit television taken inside and outside the Jumalon compound. However, he said the faces of the suspects were not clear because it was a little dark at that time.
“We were able to see the suspects but it (footage) needs to be enhanced further by our technical people so that we can clearly look at the identity of the suspects,” said Monato.
“Hopefully later on, with the enhancement of the CCTV footage and if we can get other statements from other witnesses maybe outside the residence, we could make another composite sketch of the gunman,” added Monato.
Monato said witnesses were not able to give a clear description of the gunman because he was wearing a cap.
“Hopefully, if we are able to enhance the CCTV footage with the help of our PNP technical units, we can also have his (gunman) composite sketch,” he said, adding the PNP is stepping up efforts to locate additional witnesses.
As to the whereabouts of the suspects, Monato said: “That is now the subject of our ongoing effort with intelligence personnel and a group of investigators.”
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. urged the public to support police efforts to deliver justice for Jumalon’s killing.
“We implore the community to join forces with us in our pursuit of justice for Juan Jumalon,” said Acorda.
“Your cooperation and support are invaluable in solving this crime and ensuring the safety of our society,” he added.
In a statement, the PNP said it is “fully committed to swiftly identifying and apprehending the perpetrators responsible for this senseless act of violence and ensuring that they face the full force of the law.
“We understand the profound grief and anguish that this loss has caused, and we stand in solidarity with the family throughout this difficult period,” the PNP added.