ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE – In a private funeral ceremony in Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte, the 57-year-old broadcaster Juan “Johnny Walker” Jumalon was laid to rest on Sunday, November 12. Alongside family, relatives, close friends, and former political associates paid their respects, offering support and condolences.
The family is still grappling with the loss of their patriarch, who not only provided for them as a dependable breadwinner but was also known for his amiable personality.
Johnny’s son, Stephen Kyle Jumalon, expressed his deep grief, stating, “I’m really hoping to get justice because he doesn’t deserve this. He doesn’t deserve what happened. I love my dad so much, and I can’t accept, I still can’t sink in that this happened to him.”
His wife, Roda, originally from Chicago, Illinois, emotionally reminisced about how Johnny cared for them during their visits to Calamba.
“I will never forget his kindness because he was really good to us. Now that this happened to him, it’s really painful for us because his death happened so suddenly.”
The Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Misamis Occidental has filed murder and theft charges, and a reward of 3.7 million pesos has been pledged for the swift arrest of the suspects.
Colonel Dwight Monato, Provincial Director of the Misamis Occidental Police Provincial Office, explained, “Based on the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution passed by the Provincial Government of the Province of Misamis Occidental, they allocated 3.5 million. The breakdown is 500,000 for civilian informants, 3 million for law enforcers who capture the perpetrators, plus 100,000 from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and an additional 100,000 from the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, making it an overall 3.7 million.”
Authorities continue to call on the public to share any information that could lead to the apprehension of the suspects and ensure justice for Johnny Walker, who was tragically shot and killed during a live broadcast.
