The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) strongly condemned the killing of veteran journalist Juan “Johnny” Dayang, who was shot dead inside his home in Kalibo, Aklan, on Tuesday night.
Dayang, 79, was a prominent figure in Philippine media and served as president emeritus of the Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI).
He was reportedly shot by an unidentified assailant around 8 p.m. and was rushed to the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
In a statement, PTFOMS executive director Undersecretary Jose Torres Jr. said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is actively investigating the case to bring those responsible to justice.
“We are closely coordinating with all concerned agencies to ensure the immediate resolution of this case,” Torres said.
He described Dayang as “a pillar of Philippine journalism” whose decades-long work helped enrich democratic discourse in the country.
“We stand in solidarity with the media community as we mourn the passing of Mr. Dayang,” Torres said.
“His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of journalists in their pursuit of truth and justice.”
The task force also urged the public to remain vigilant and support efforts to uphold press freedom and protect journalists across the Philippines.