Murdered broadcaster did not receive death threats: Police

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