Jumalon case now considered closed- PTFoMS

DAVAO CITY —The death of Misamis Occidental Broadcaster Juan “Johny Walker” Jumalon is now considered closed following the arrest of the third suspect in Dipolog City on Monday morning, said Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez, executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS)

“The case is as good as solved, ” said Gutierrez following the arrest of the suspected gunman Jolieto Dumaog Mangumpit, aka, ‘Ricky.’

Mangumpit was arrested by joint operatives and intelligence personnel of the Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga Del Norte Police Offices, past 3:00 am, in Dipolog City, based on an arrest warrant for murder issued by Judge Michael Lotao Ajoc of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 36, 10th Judicial Region, Misamis Occidental.

Citing the report of Misamis Occidental Provincial Police Office director Police Colonel Dwight Monato, Gutierrez said “Finally, the quest for justice for the family of Jumalon will be served with the arrest of Mangumpit. 

All three suspects directly involved in the killing of Jumalon are now in the hands of the law,  Gutierrez said  “We are optimistic that given the weight of evidence against them, they would be convicted by the court.”

Jumalon is the 204th member of the Philippine Media killed since 1986.

He was killed while doing a live stream broadcast inside the announcer’s booth in his residence in Calamba town on November 5, 2023.

Aside from the killing of Jumalon, Monato revealed that Mangumpit also has 8 outstanding warrants of arrest for murder, frustrated murder, direct assault, and violation of the anti-drug law. He is also listed as the province’s most wanted criminal.

Mangumpit’s accomplices are his cousins Boboy Sagaray Bongcawel aka, ‘Boboy’ and, Renante Saja Bongcawel, aka, ‘Inteng’ were arrested in the town of Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental on March 15, 2024.

Official investigation disclosed that Inteng drove the getaway motorcycle while his cousin Boboy acted as the backup gunman of Mangumpit.

A reward amounting to P3.7 million was also committed by the provincial government of Misamis Occidental, PTFoMS, and the PAOCC.