Veteran journalist and former Kalibo Mayor Johnny Dayang shot dead in home

CMFR/PHILIPPINES — An unidentified gunman fatally shot Juan “Johnny” Dayang, a prominent journalist and former mayor of Kalibo, inside his residence in Barangay Andagao on the evening of April 29. He was 89 years old.

Dayang was attacked around 8:00 p.m. while watching television inside his home, in Casa Dayang, Villa Salvacion. The Kalibo Municipal Police said that the assailant, wearing a bonnet, allegedly fired three shots from outside the residence. Dayang sustained a fatal neck wound and two gunshot wounds to the back. He was rushed to Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Dayang served as the president emeritus of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) and was known for his weekly columns in Tempo and Balita, publications under the Manila Bulletin group. He was at the helm of national media associations for decades, including over 20 years as PAPI president. He also served as president of the Manila Overseas Press Club, a former director of the National Press Club, founding president of the Federation of Provincial Press Clubs of the Philippines, and Secretary of the Catholic Mass Media Awards at the time of his death.

He wrote his column for Balita until April 2021 when he discussed among other issues the wavering public trust in vaccines, popular opposition for the 2022 polls, and the diversity of views even among government officials. His last column was published on April 2, 2021.

Dayang held positions in government serving as  officer-in-charge mayor of Kalibo during the term of President Corazon Aquino. His other roles included serving as the UNESCO Commissioner, Red Cross Governor, and National Book Development Board Governor.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) condemned the killing. Executive Director Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr. said, “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.”

PAPI President Nelson Santos also denounced the killing in a statement: “We strongly condemn this killing, and we are calling for justice. HINDI niya deserve ang cruel and senseless end,” adding that PAPI is calling on PTFOMS and law enforcement to “promptly investigate the Dayang case, identify the killers and the brains behind the murder, and bring them to justice.”

At this posting, the police had not said anything about the motive for the murder.CMFR/PHILIPPINES — An unidentified gunman fatally shot Juan “Johnny” Dayang, a prominent journalist and former mayor of Kalibo, inside his residence in Barangay Andagao on the evening of April 29. He was 89 years old.

Dayang was attacked around 8:00 p.m. while watching television inside his home, in Casa Dayang, Villa Salvacion. The Kalibo Municipal Police said that the assailant, wearing a bonnet, allegedly fired three shots from outside the residence. Dayang sustained a fatal neck wound and two gunshot wounds to the back. He was rushed to Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Dayang served as the president emeritus of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI) and was known for his weekly columns in Tempo and Balita, publications under the Manila Bulletin group. He was at the helm of national media associations for decades, including over 20 years as PAPI president. He also served as president of the Manila Overseas Press Club, a former director of the National Press Club, founding president of the Federation of Provincial Press Clubs of the Philippines, and Secretary of the Catholic Mass Media Awards at the time of his death.

He wrote his column for Balita until April 2021 when he discussed among other issues the wavering public trust in vaccines, popular opposition for the 2022 polls, and the diversity of views even among government officials. His last column was published on April 2, 2021.

Dayang held positions in government serving as  officer-in-charge mayor of Kalibo during the term of President Corazon Aquino. His other roles included serving as the UNESCO Commissioner, Red Cross Governor, and National Book Development Board Governor.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) condemned the killing. Executive Director Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr. said, “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.”

PAPI President Nelson Santos also denounced the killing in a statement: “We strongly condemn this killing, and we are calling for justice. HINDI niya deserve ang cruel and senseless end,” adding that PAPI is calling on PTFOMS and law enforcement to “promptly investigate the Dayang case, identify the killers and the brains behind the murder, and bring them to justice.”

At this posting, the police had not said anything about the motive for the murder.