Filipino radio anchor fatally shot while on Facebook livestream watched by followers

Shocking video captured the moment a radio host in the Philippines was shot dead while livestreaming his show on Facebook from his home.

Juan Jumalon, 57, was shot twice by the gunman, who also grabbed his gold necklace after entering the home about 5:30 a.m. Sunday by pretending to be a listener, officials said.

“The perpetrator entered the radio station and without hesitation shot the victim in the face which caused his untimely death,” the Misamis Occidental police said in a statement.

The assailant fled with a companion, who was waiting outside on a motorcycle.

In the distressing video, Jumalon — also known as “DJ Johnny Walker” — is seen pausing and looking off camera before two shots ring out. He slumps back bloodied in his chair as background music plays.

The broadcaster’s wife rushed him to a local hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival, the BBC reported.

The shooter was not seen on the livestream, but police said they were checking whether security cameras also captured the incident.

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Jumalon’s broadcasts usually aired on the Facebook page 94.7 Gold Mega Calamba FM, a Visayan-language station with about 2,900 followers who discussed a wide range of topics from relationships to neighborhood issues.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said on X that it “condemns the brazen killing.”

The press freedom watchdog said Jumalon was the 199th journalist to be killed in the Philippines since 1986, when democracy returned after a “People Power” uprising toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the father of the current president, and forced him and his family into US exile.

“The attack is even more condemnable since it happened at Jumalon’s own home, which also served as the radio station,” it said.

President Ferdinand Marcos strongly condemned the attack and said he had ordered the Philippine National Police to thoroughly investigate the murder and capture the shooter.

“Attacks on journalists will not be tolerated in our democracy, and those who threaten the freedom of the press will face the full consequences of their actions,” Marcos said on X.

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Police Capt. Diore Libre Ragonio said authorities have identified at least three suspects and that they’re investigating possible motives, including whether the attack was related to Jumalon’s work or personal matters, according to CNN. 

The Philippines, one of the most dangerous places for journalists, is ranked 132 of 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index.

In 2009, members of a powerful political clan and their associates gunned down 58 people, including 32 journalists, in an execution-style attack in southern Maguindanao province.

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It was the deadliest single attack on journalists in recent history.

With Post wires