EVEN as we appreciate the prompt condemnation of the murder of broadcaster Juan "Johnny Walker" Jumalon of Calamba, Misamis Occidental -- especially the reactions of persons in high places, with the duty and power to end impunity in the killing of journalists -- we applaud more the quick harnessing of forces to solve the crime.
These were done just hours after the killing: (1) The SITG or Special Investigation Task Group was formed by the Philippine National Police. (2) The assistance of National Bureau of Investigation, with the committed resources of Department of Justice, was obtained by PTFoMS or Presidential Task Force on Media Security.
That's a lot of improvement in response since the July 22, 2021 murder of radio commentator Renante Cortes and the December 2021 frustrated murder of Rico Osmeña, another radio commentator.
The tragedies that struck both Cebu block-time broadcasters got much slower reaction.
It wasn't known if an SITG was even formed for Cortes, as the Cebu City police directly turned over his case, six months after the incident, to CIDG. An SITG, routine protocol in the PNP Manual of Operations, was certainly formed to investigate the gun attack on Rico Osmeña, from which he survived bullet wounds in the neck and the back. But Osmeña's SITG was created only on February 3, 2022, several weeks after the December 16, 2021 shooting. Both Cortes and Osme a files had long been moved as cold cases to CIDG.
We join the voices condemning the brazenness of the Misamis Occidental crime: Juan Jumalon was shot in the head right in his home studio and when he was on air, the show live-streamed on Facebook Live. That, as we thank the authorities for the immediate response. We hope the SITG, along with NBI and DOJ, will soon have the evidence to solve the crime and convict the culprits.
-- Atty. Pachico A. Seares
CCPC executive director