Broadcaster Jumalon, known as DJ Johnny Walker, was laid to rest, and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., via the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS), has assured the grieving family that law enforcement is diligently working to apprehend the culprits responsible for the fatal shooting inside his home-based studio on November 5.

The 57-year-old Jumalon found his final resting place in Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte on Sunday, with Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez, PTFoMS executive director, paying respects at the wake in Calamba town. Gutierrez delivered financial assistance from President Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez to support Jumalon’s family.

Before visiting the wake, Gutierrez conferred with Misamis Occidental police director Col. Dwight Monato in Oroquieta City to discuss the progress of the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Johnny Walker. The investigative leads and potential motives being pursued suggest a promising resolution to the case, according to Gutierrez.

On Wednesday, the SITG filed murder and theft charges against one of Jumalon’s three attackers, releasing a computer-generated sketch of the suspect’s face. The suspect, identified as a gun-for-hire in the province, was named by three witnesses, as reported by Monato to Gutierrez.

“We already have the name and background of one of the three possible suspects. This is a good starting point in any investigation,” stated Monato.

Gutierrez also held meetings with the National Bureau of Investigation and the regional office of the Philippine National Police – Directorate for Investigation and Detection Management. He emphasized, “More than the expression of sympathy and the granting of financial support, what we are after here is justice for the victim through the apprehension of the identified suspect and his confederates leading to the unmasking of the mastermind if there is any.”

President Marcos’ directive is clear—to seek justice for the Jumalon family, and Gutierrez expressed satisfaction that law enforcement is actively working towards this goal. The current reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects stands at PHP3.7 million, and the provincial police office has committed to ensuring the security of the Jumalon family.

(ai/mnm)

HANGZHOU – After a whirlwind 2023 that catapulted Ernest John Obiena to world no. 2, a silver in the World Athletics Championships, a seat in the Paris Olympics, and a record-smashing Asian Games’ gold, the Filipino superstar pole vaulter has finally earned the right to rest.

“Oh I’m resting,” said Obiena after his record-smashing, history-making performance at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, where he delivered the Philippines’ first and so far only gold in the 19th Asian Games on Saturday night.

When asked if he’s preparing for the Paris Olympics after the games, Obiena aired his determination to rest. “I’m not thinking about it (Olympics) now.”

The 27-year-old Obiena captured the pole vault gold with his record leap of 5.75 meters, which he further smashed at 5.9. He tried to break his own 6.0 meters by setting the bar to 6.02 as a gift to his coach Vitaly Petrov, but couldn’t pull it off in three tries.

Nevertheless, Obiena has accomplished his goal of winning an Asian Games gold, the Philippines’ first in athletics in 37 years since Lydia de Vega’s 100-meter conquest in the Seoul Asiad, and the first athletics medal of any color in 29 years since Elma Muros’ bronze feat in the long jump competitions of the 1994 Hiroshima games

“I’m very happy that he pulled through. I can imagine the pressure on EJ because of all the expectations, but he pulled through. It seemed like a routine for him and it’s a good routine. Parang nagiging mindset na niya to win every tournament he joins,” said athletics’ president Terry Capistrano.

“And that’s very good, let him rest for now, and then after Christmas, we can start thinking of Paris. Again, congratulations to all of us. Hindi naman ako ang tumalon, but I’m very happy. And this is not just about athletics, it’s for our campaign here in general. I hope we win more medals in the other sports. Sana madagdagan pa ang gold natin or the silver or the bronze,” Capistrano added.

Obiena joined the exclusive 6-meter club at the Sparebanken Vest Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway on June 10, 2023.

A month later, Obiena became the first Filipino to qualify for the 2024 Olympics after clearing the Olympic standard of 5.82 meters at the Bauhaus Galan in Stockholm, Sweden.

Other highlights of Obiena’s busy 2023 include a title in the Cambodia SEA Games; the Müller Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham crown with his 5.82 meters; the Orlen Copernicus Cup Torun gold with his 5.91 meters; the World Athletics Championships, where he bagged the silver medal with a clearance of 5.94 meters; and the European Athletics Championships, where he finished fourth in the final, clearing 5.85 meters.

(AI/MNM)