At the time of his death, Zumel concurrently held several positions in the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), including membership in its central committee.
He was also the honorary chairman of the National Democratic Front, a position he held since 1994. In peace talks with the government, Zumel was senior adviser of the NDF negotiating panel since 1992.
Zumel, a former president of the National Press Club in the 1970s, is known to peers as "Antumel" or "Tony."
The militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said Zumel opened the doors of the NPC office to activists chased by anti-riot police and to militant leaders who needed a venue for press conferences.
In 1972, Zumel was among many journalists who left their careers and joined the revolutionary underground to fight the US-Marcos dictatorship. Previously, he was the founding chairperson of the Amado V. Hernandez Foundation.
Zumel was awarded the Gawad Marcelo H. del Pilar, the highest citation given by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines. – Sandy Araneta