By Junex Doronio
AS PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Sunday strongly condemned the dastardly killing of Misamis Occidental radio journalist Juan Jumalon and ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct a thorough probe, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) said it has alerted the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to help gather evidence.
“I condemn in the strongest terms the murder of broadcaster Juan Jumalon,” President Marcos Jr. posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He stressed that such brazen attack on media practitioners has no place in a democratic society.
“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,” the President said.
For his part, PTFoMS Executive Director Paul Gutierrez said Jumalon’s death is considered “work-related for the moment” until another motive is determined.
“We also call on our colleagues in the media and the public not to resort to any speculation or make baseless accusations that can only distract our investigators on the true motive for the attack on Jamalon,” Gutierrez said.
Police said Jumalon was broadcasting on radio station 94.7 Calamba Gold FM in his residence early Sunday when an unidentified gunman shot him in the head.
Police BGen. Ricardo Layug, Jr., acting regional director of Police Regional Office 10, said the newly-formed Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) will to look into Jumalon’s killing in Misamis Occidental.
(ai/mnm)