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Advocates Philippines
Former Kalibo Mayor And Veteran Journalist Johnny Dayang Shot Dead At Home In Aklan
Photo credit: Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc.
Aklan—In a deeply shocking and heartbreaking development, 89-year-old Johnny Dayang, a former mayor of Kalibo and a well-respected journalist, was shot and killed Tuesday night (April 29, 2025) right inside his own home in Barangay Andagao.
According to the Aklan Police Provincial Office, Dayang was quietly watching TV at around 8 p.m. when an unidentified man on a motorcycle fired shots from outside the perimeter fence of his residence along Villa Salvacion, Toting Reyes Street. The bullets hit him while he was inside his home—a place where he should have felt safe.
• Dayang was rushed to the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival.
Authorities have yet to identify the gunman. The Philippine National Police is now investigating the case, and efforts are underway to track down the suspect.
The news of Dayang’s death has sent shockwaves throughout the media community. The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) was quick to issue a strong statement condemning the attack.
“We are closely coordinating with all concerned agencies to ensure the immediate resolution of this case,” said PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr., who also extended his condolences to Dayang’s family and colleagues.
Torres paid tribute to Dayang, calling him a “pillar of Philippine journalism” whose long-standing work in the media industry had a lasting impact on the nation’s press freedom. Dayang also served as chairman emeritus of the Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI).
The National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) joined the call for justice, with NPC President Leonel Abasola urging authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Mr. Dayang’s murder is not just an attack on a journalist, but an attack on press freedom itself,” Abasola said.
With the election season heating up, the PTFoMS remains on heightened alert due to increasing threats and violence against journalists. This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by members of the press, even those long retired from frontline reporting.
According to the Aklan Police Provincial Office, Dayang was quietly watching TV at around 8 p.m. when an unidentified man on a motorcycle fired shots from outside the perimeter fence of his residence along Villa Salvacion, Toting Reyes Street. The bullets hit him while he was inside his home—a place where he should have felt safe.
• Dayang was rushed to the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival.
Authorities have yet to identify the gunman. The Philippine National Police is now investigating the case, and efforts are underway to track down the suspect.
The news of Dayang’s death has sent shockwaves throughout the media community. The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) was quick to issue a strong statement condemning the attack.
“We are closely coordinating with all concerned agencies to ensure the immediate resolution of this case,” said PTFoMS Executive Director Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr., who also extended his condolences to Dayang’s family and colleagues.
Torres paid tribute to Dayang, calling him a “pillar of Philippine journalism” whose long-standing work in the media industry had a lasting impact on the nation’s press freedom. Dayang also served as chairman emeritus of the Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI).
The National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC) joined the call for justice, with NPC President Leonel Abasola urging authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Mr. Dayang’s murder is not just an attack on a journalist, but an attack on press freedom itself,” Abasola said.
With the election season heating up, the PTFoMS remains on heightened alert due to increasing threats and violence against journalists. This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by members of the press, even those long retired from frontline reporting.
Apr 30, 2025
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