Radio host in the Philippines is shot dead during broadcast. Berlin police officers lose pistols, ammunition and much more

A presenter was shot dead during a radio program in the southern Philippines. Under the pretext of wanting to share something about his show, a man gained access to the studio of Juan Jumalon, 57, at his home in Calamba in the western province of Misamis, police said. “Once inside, he pulled out his firearm for no apparent reason and shot his victim,” police said. The bullet hit the lower lip and pierced the skull.

The suspect fled and the presenter was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Initially, nothing was known about the possible motives of the perpetrator. According to the National Union of Philippine Journalists (NUJP), Jumalon worked for the station 94.7 Calamba Gold FM and was also known as DJ Johnny Walker.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned the act and called on police to quickly bring the perpetrator to justice. “Attacks on journalists will not be tolerated in our democracy,” Marcos wrote on the short message service X (formerly Twitter).

According to NUJP, Jumalon is the fourth journalist to be murdered since Marcos came to power in the middle of last year, and the 199th since 1986, when dictator Ferdinand Marcos – the current president’s father – was overthrown. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, a US-based non-governmental organization, the Southeast Asian country is one of the most dangerous places for reporters, especially broadcast journalists. (sda/dpa)