DAVAO CITY — Two of the three suspects in the murder of Juan T. Jumalon aka “Johnny Walker” were simultaneously arrested on March 15 in barangay Poblacion, Sapang Dalaga town Misamis Occidental.
Paul Gutierez, executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) citing the report from Misamis Occidental Provincial Police identified the arrested suspects as Boboy Sagaray Bongcawel, 39, single, jobless, and a resident of Purol-2, Barangay Manla, Sapang Dalaga and the other identified as Renante Saja Bongcawel aka Inteng, 39, married, a fisherman who lives in the same address as Boboy.
Police however did not mention the relationship between the two who carry the same family name and live in the same place.
According to Gutierez, ”Boboy was the person identified as poking a gun at Jumalon’s radio station helper when he opened the gate, while Inteng was identified as the driver of their getaway motorcycle.”
The arrest was conducted under the Warrants of Arrest issued by Judge Michael Lotao Ajoc, Executive Judge of 10th Regional Trial Court Branch 36, in Calamba town on March 15, no bail bond is recommended.
The two are facing charges of murder in relation to the death of Jumalon on November 5, 2023.
The remaining suspect (gunman) Julito Mangumpit alias Ricky remains at large and the subject of an extensive manhunt by the police.
“This only shows that the PTFoMS, together with all partner agencies, particularly the PNP on this case, is seriously performing its mandate under Administrative Order (AO) No. 1 as the government’s mechanism to address all cases of violence against members of the press,” Gutierrez said in a statement.
Rewards totaling P3.7Million were offered earlier for the capture of the suspects in the murder of Juan T. Jumalon AKA “Johnny Walker” following the offer of Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S. Oaminal of P3.5Million in addition to the P100,000 reward each offered by Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime.