Court acquits suspects in broadcaster ‘Johnny Walker’ Jumalon’s slay
Juan Jumalon, 57, popularly known as DJ Jonny Walker, was on board on his popular Sunday program “Pa-hapyod sa Kabuntagon” when a lone gunman barged into the radio station right in the victim’s own home and killed him at 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, November 5, 2023.
MANILA, Philippines — A Misamis Occidental court has acquitted the three suspects accused of being behind the killing of radio broadcaster Juan “Johnny Walker” Jumalon due to a lack of evidence.
In a 33-page decision, Calamba, Misamis Occidental Regional Trial Court Branch 36 Judge Michael Ajoc declared suspects Jolito Saja Mangumpit, Reynante Saja Bongcawel, and Bobby Bongcawel not guilty of murder.
READ: Suspect in killing of radio broadcaster Jumalon arrested
“The totality of the evidence presented by the prosecution was patently insufficient to prove the guilt of accused Jolito Mangompit as the gunman, Boboy Bongcawil as the one who pointed a gun [at] the gatekeeper; and Reynante Bongcawil as [the] lookout and driver of the getaway vehicle beyond reasonable doubt,” the decision read.
“In a nutshell, the prosecution failed to prove the guilt beyond reasonable doubt of all the accused,” it noted.
The court also pointed out how much it affects a victim’s family when the wrong person is brought to trial.
It stated that it “defeats several purposes” of the criminal justice system and “rubs a grain of salt into the wounds sustained by the grieving family of the murdered victim.”
With this, the court directed the immediate transfer of Mangompit to Zamboanga del Norte Correctional and Rehabilitation Center to face his other cases.
It also ordered the immediate release of both Bongcawels unless they are detained for some other legal reasons.
It was on November 5, 2023, when Jumalon was killed during a live broadcast in Calamba town, Misamis Occidental.
