KALIBO, Aklan — Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation and manhunt following the fatal shooting of veteran journalist and former Kalibo mayor Juan “Johnny” Dayang inside his residence in Barangay Andagao here on the night of April 29.
Police reports indicate that Dayang, 89, was watching television in his living room around 9 p.m. when an unidentified assailant, clad in a black jacket and riding a motorcycle, fired three shots from outside the perimeter fence of his home in Villa Salvacion residential subdivision.
The gunman immediately fled toward Calacuchi Road.
Police Lieutenant Arnel Solis, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), said Dayang was hit in the neck and shoulder and was rushed to the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
“We are deeply alarmed by this act of violence against a respected elder and member of the media,” said Solis, noting that Dayang had previously reported suspicious individuals loitering near his home.
He added that investigators are currently reviewing security camera footage, conducting interviews, and pursuing all possible leads.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) condemned the killing of Dayang.
“We are closely coordinating with all concerned agencies to ensure the immediate resolution of this case,” said Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr., executive director of PTFOMS.
He added: “We stand in solidarity with the media community as we mourn the passing of Mr. Dayang, a figure regarded as a pillar of Philippine journalism whose contributions greatly enriched our democratic discourse.”
PRO-6 director Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky blasted the attack, too, calling it a “brutal and cowardly killing” that struck at the heart of democracy and freedom of expression.
“This heinous act was carried out not only against one man but also against the values of democracy, freedom of expression, and the rule of law,” said Wanky. “We assure the public that an airtight investigation is underway. All legal resources will be exhausted to identify and apprehend the perpetrator. No one is above the law.”
The killing has drawn widespread condemnation from the media community and civil society organizations.
In a statement, the Iloilo Media-Citizen Council described the attack as “a direct assault on press freedom” and called for a swift and impartial investigation.
“That he was killed in cold blood inside his own home—a place that should have been his sanctuary—reveals the utter brazenness of the attacker. This act sends a chilling message to every journalist in the country,” the council said.
Dayang was widely known in the Philippine media industry for his decades-long career and leadership roles. He served as OIC Mayor of Kalibo, president of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI), head of the Manila Overseas Press Club, and publisher of Philippine Graphic Magazine and Headline Manila.
He also held national positions including UNESCO commissioner and board member of the Red Cross and the National Book Development Board.
Dayang would have turned 90 on June 24, 2025.
Friends and colleagues remembered Dayang as a principled journalist and champion of press freedom. “We grieve, we demand justice, and we will not be silenced,” the Iloilo Media-Citizen Council declared.
Kalibo police are urging anyone with information that may aid the investigation to come forward.
“We call on the public to assist us in this case,” said Solis. “We owe it to Mr. Dayang, his family, and the nation he served with words and wisdom.”
PTFOMS extended its “deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Dayang during this difficult time.”
Torres said Dayang’s legacy “will continue to inspire future generations of journalists in their pursuit of truth and justice.”
The PTFOMS calls on the public to remain vigilant and to support efforts that uphold press freedom and protect media professionals in the Philippines./PN
