By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 has created a special investigation task group to pursue the suspect or suspects behind the killing of veteran journalist and former Kalibo mayor Juan “Johnny” Dayang.
PRO-6 Director Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky said the task group will be led by Col. Arnel Ramos, director of the Aklan Provincial Police Office, and supervised by PRO-6 Deputy Regional Director for Operations Col. Joriz Cantoria.
The Presidential Task Force on Media Security and the National Bureau of Investigation have joined the probe to strengthen investigative efforts.
Captain Aubrey Ayon, Aklan police spokesperson, confirmed that the Philippine National Police will continue to lead the investigation.
Ayon said investigators are exploring three possible motives behind the slay: political, work-related, and personal.
She said they are checking if Dayang had any political affiliations, enemies from his media work, or personal disputes.
Wanky said police have identified a person of interest but declined to give further details, citing the need to avoid speculation.
He added that they are reviewing CCTV footage from the area and following “good leads.”
The PRO-6 vowed an airtight investigation and pledged to use all legal means to bring the perpetrator to justice.
In a statement, PRO-6 extended its condolences to the Dayang family and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring public safety in Aklan and the rest of Western Visayas.
Dayang, 89, was shot inside his home in Villa Salvacion, Toting Reyes Street, Barangay Andagao, Kalibo, Aklan, around 8:30 p.m. on April 29.
He was reportedly in his living room watching television and waiting for tea after dinner when he was attacked.
Witnesses said the gunman, dressed in a black jacket and full-face helmet, dismounted from a black Honda Click motorcycle and fired three shots from outside the perimeter fence.
The gunman reportedly fled toward Calacuchi Road in Barangay Andagao.
Dayang’s househelp found him bleeding from the neck and back and rushed him to Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
The househelp also reported seeing two unidentified men on a motorcycle loitering near the home earlier that day.
They were wearing bonnets and left immediately when she stepped outside.
Police said there are no official blotter records, but Dayang had allegedly gone to the station multiple times in the past two weeks to report suspicious activity near his home.
Dayang was a prominent media figure, serving as chairman emeritus of the Aklan Press Club and former president of the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc.
He was a publisher of Philippine Graphic Magazine and Headline Manila, and a past president of the Manila Overseas Press Club.
He had also served as a UNESCO commissioner, Red Cross governor, National Book Development Board governor, and board member of Fortune Insurance Co. under the ALC Group of Companies.
Dayang briefly served as mayor of Kalibo from March 1986 to January 1987.
