Johnny P. Dayang, veteran journalist and former mayor of Kalibo, Aklan | Photo via Facebook
Part I of “Protecting Filipino Journalists” Series
Roy Mabasa asked yesterday morning in his Facebook Timeline: “What kind of heartless coward could do this to Juan ‘Johnny’ P. Dayang? The man, already in his 80s, was gunned down inside his own home in Kalibo, Aklan, just hours ago, according to a report from the Kalibo Police Station. Dayang wasn’t just a respected elder—he was a pillar of Philippine journalism, a veteran newsman, and the founder of the Publishers Association of the Philippines. He didn’t deserve such a cruel and senseless end.”
The Manila Bulletin also reported the killing of Johnny Dayang.
Roy Mabasa is a past president of the Philippines National Press Club (NPC). His brother, Percy Mabasa, a fellow journalist, was shot to death by several prisoners who were allegedly ordered to do the killing by Philippine penitentiary officials. The accused convicts confessed to their roles in his assassination.
So far, five individuals (including the convicts) have been convicted of Mabasa’s murder. However, the alleged mastermind, the then-Bureau of Corrections Chief Gerald Bantag, remains at large despite arrest warrants against him, news reports said.
The report further said: Mabasa, better known as Percy Lapid, was gunned down on October 3, 2022, inside his vehicle by motorcycle-riding assailants in Las Piñas while traveling to work. As host of the Lapid Fire program on the DWBL 1242 radio station, he had been a prominent critic of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte in his commentaries and YouTube broadcasts, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.
The Philippines is reportedly ranked eighth on 2023 Impunity Index of the international organization called the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)., a global ranking of countries where journalists are killed, and their assailants go free.
The winners of the May 12, 2025, Philippine national and local elections, including 12 Philippine Senate members and all the House of Representatives members, must do more to legislate more protection for the Filipino Fourth Estate. Local government units must also do their best to enforce protective steps to safeguard the lives of Filipino journalists, especially broadcasters.
