Police arrested on Monday, April 29, the alleged gunman in the killing of broadcaster Juan T. Jumalon who was shot dead in the middle of his program in Misamis Occidental in November last year.
Nabbed was Julito Mangumpit, alias Ricky, who was collared at around 3 a.m. in Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte using the arrest warrant issued against him in connection with the death of Jumalon.
The 57-year old Jumalon, also known as Johnny Walker, was gunned down at the radio booth of the Gold FM 94.7 in Calamba town on Nov. 5, las year.
The arrest of Mangumpit was based on the confirmed intelligence reports on his location.
A background check revealed that Mangumpit also faces at least eight cases that include murder, frustrated murder, direct assault and violation of the anti-drug law.
The arrest of Mangumpit brough to three, the total number of suspects arrested in connection with Jumalon's death.
On March 15, police also collared Boboy Bongcawel and his cousin Renante Bongcawel in Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental. The two were tagged as the ones who allegedly helped Mangumpit in killing Jumalon.
“We are looking for three people directly involved in the killing of Ka Johnny Walker and with the arrest of this gunman, we have already accounted for all of them. We commend our personnel in Misamis Occidental who relentlessly work to solve this case,” said national police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo.
The operation against the suspects started as a tip-off from a witness who tagged the three as responsible for the killing of Jumalon. The witness said the three are members of a gun-for-hire group.
Fajardo said the involvement of the suspects in gun-for-hire activities was established after the investigation revealed that the gun used in killing Jumalon was the same gun used in the assassination of a municipal engineer also in Misamis Occidental.
“The investigation is still ongoing since we believe that these arrested suspects were just ordered to kill Ka Johnny Walker. This is now the subject of our ongoing investigation,” said Fajardo.
The arrested suspects, however, would not cooperate with the police.