In the Philippines, a journalist was shot dead

A radio journalist was shot dead on Sunday November 5 at his home in the Philippines, police announced, in a country where the media are regularly the target of assassinations and intimidation.

Juan Jumalon, 57, was at home on the southern island of Mindanao when he was shot dead by a gunman, according to Deore Ragonio, police chief of Calamba in Misamis province. Western (northwest of the island).

The suspect entered the room where Mr. Jumalon had set up his radio studio, arguing that he wanted to make an announcement on air, according to a police press release. The gun attack was filmed during a live broadcast of his show. The video circulating on social media shows the suspect shooting the journalist twice and grabbing his gold necklace before fleeing. Mr. Jumalon was pronounced dead at a local hospital. “He mainly covered current affairs and was not known for criticizing anyone on his shows”said Mr. Ragonio.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (UNJP) has condemned a “infamous murder”. The Philippines are among the most dangerous countries for journalists, where the perpetrators of such abuses are rarely prosecuted. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an association based in New York, the Philippines was in 2021 the seventh worst ranked country in terms of impunity for the murders of journalists. 158 journalists have been killed since 1992, according to the same source. In May, radio journalist Cresenciano Bunduquin was shot dead in front of his home in the center of the archipelago.