Killer still at large as ‘pillar’ of PH journalism laid to rest

THE killer of the highly respected Juan ‘Johnny’ Dayang remains at large more than a week after he was gunned down at his house in Kalibo, Aklan and while he was being laid to rest at the Manila Memorial Park on May 7.

Prior to his death, Dayang was serving as the chairman emeritus of the Publishers’ Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) and secretary of the Catholic Mass Media Award (CMMA). He was also past president of the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC), founder of the Provincial Press Clubs of the Philippines (PPCP) and a former director and lifetime member of the National Press Club (NPC).

Dayang also served as mayor of Kalibo in 1986, under the ‘revolutionary government’ of President Corazon Aquino.

Initial reports say a masked lone gunman shot Dayang on the evening of April 29, at least three times with an unknown caliber from a pistol while he was watching television. The killer then successfully made his escape.

Although the authorities, thru the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) claim they have already identified the attacker based on CCTV footages and other evidence, he is yet to be arrested.

As such, various speculations regarding the motive for killing Dayang remain unsubstantiated.

Dayang would have turned 90 years old this coming June 24, said his long-time friend, Waldy Carbonnel, another veteran media practitioner.

Dayang is the fourth, but the most high-profile journalist, to be killed under the Maros administration, after blocktimer Percival ‘Percy’ Lapid in October 2022 (Metro Manila), Cris Bundoquin (Mindoro Oriental) and Juan ‘Johnny’ Jumalon (Northern Mindanao), in May and November 2023, respectively.