Foreign ambassadors of France, European Union, United Kingdom, and Germany strongly condemned the killing of Juan Jumalon, a radio broadcaster from Misamis Occidental in Mindanao.
Radio broadcaster Juan Jumalon (Photo from 94.7 Gold FM Calamba/Facebook)
Jumalon, a 57-year-old radio announcer who was known as “DJ Johnny Walker,” was shot dead by unidentified assailants while he was on air on Sunday, Nov. 5.
The incident happened in the victim’s own radio station 94.7 Gold FM which was located at his residence in the town of Calamba. This was caught on a livestream of his radio show.
“The European Union stands firm with the Philippines. Attacks on journalists are always unacceptable. I offer my condolences to Mr. Jumalon’s loved ones,” EU Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The ambassadors of United Kingdom, Germany, and France shared the X post of President Marcos who ordered the police to conduct an investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
They were one with the Chief Executive in calling for a thorough probe and prosecution to the full extent of the law of Jumalon’s killers.
“I am shocked by the murder of Juan Jumalon. I call on the (Philippine) authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice promptly,” UK Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils said in her post.
She asserted that journalists must be able to “do their job free of violence,” stressing that “a free media is the cornerstone of democracy.”
French Ambassador Marie Fontanel of France and German Andreas Pfaffernoschke likewise condemned the brazen killing of Jumalon.
“A (Filipino) journalist has been murdered. I support the strong condemnation and call for swift investigations. A constant fight against impunity is the only way to protect journalists, lawyers or human rights defenders doing their job and hence secure democracy based on the rule of law,” Fontanel said.
In his X post, Pfaffernoschke stressed that attacks on journalists should not be tolerated.
“(Germany) condemns the killing of a (Filipino) journalist and supports president Marcos jr. call for a thorough investigation. Free and independent journalism is the basis of a vibrant and lively democracy. Impunity must not be tolerated,” he wrote.