Cheyenne Suarez

CHR launches independent probe into killing of journalist Johnny Dayang

Article (news)

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1746166390213Screen Shot 2025-05-02 at 2.12.50 PM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Friday said it has launched an independent investigation into the killing of veteran journalist Juan &quot;Johnny&quot; Dayang.</p><p>Dayang, a former mayor of Kalibo, Aklan and chairman emeritus of Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. (PAPI), was shot dead inside his home on Tuesday. He was 89.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/4/29/dating-kalibo-mayor-at-papi-president-patay-sa-pamamaril-2256?">Dating Kalibo mayor patay sa pamamaril</a></div><p>&quot;The CHR vehemently condemns the brazen attack committed against Dayang... CHR has deployed a Quick Response Operation (QRO) Team to undertake an independent investigation,&quot; it said.</p><p>Dayang was the president of the PAPI and a former publisher of the Philippine Graphic, as well as a columnist of the Manila Bulletin.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/4/30/tv-patrol-beteranong-kolumnista-patay-sa-pamamaril-sa-kalibo-aklan-2106">TV PATROL: Beteranong kolumnista patay sa pamamaril sa Kalibo, Aklan</a></div><p>The CHR urged media practitioners to &quot;promptly report any incidents of threats, harassment, or attacks through the Alisto! Alert Mechanism.&quot; </p><p>&quot;This mechanism provides a direct channel for media professionals to raise concerns related to their safety and security.&quot;</p><p>Kalibo police said Dayang was just watching TV when he was gunned down by a still unidentified assailant, who fled the scene in a motorcycle. </p><p>The motive of the killing remains under investigation, the police said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kk9hWexfFF8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The CHR urged media practitioners to "promptly report any incidents of threats, harassment, or attacks through the Alisto! Alert Mechanism."</p>

The CHR urged media practitioners to "promptly report any incidents of threats, harassment, or attacks through the Alisto! Alert Mechanism."