Cops Have Leads on Johnny Dayang Slay Case But Motives Still Unclear

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A week into their investigation, police said they have leads in the killing of veteran media personality Juan “Johnny” Dayang.

However, investigators have yet to determine the motive behind the killing of the 89-year-old former mayor and journalist.

Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, Western Visayas police chief, said all angles are being considered.

The Special Investigation Task Group Dayang is currently looking into three possible motives: political, personal and work-related.

“Parang connected ‘yung motive to one another,” said Capt. Aubrey Ayon, spokesperson of the Aklan Police Provincial Office, though she did not elaborate.

Wanky declined to comment on whether the gunman was a hired killer.

“We cannot divulge yet so as not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation,” he said.

Ayon also said they could not confirm whether Dayang had previously faced threats to his life.

Kalibo Municipal Police said they received a phone call from Dayang’s househelp weeks before the incident, reporting a motorcycle-riding man loitering outside his residence.

Responding officers invited the man to the police station.

He was with his wife and claimed they were looking for a boarding house.

Since no threat was found, the couple was released.

Ayon noted that Dayang had not filed any official complaint or incident report with police prior to the shooting.

Earlier, the Police Regional Office 6 formed a special investigation task group to pursue the suspect or suspects behind Dayang’s killing.

Members of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security are assisting in the probe.

Dayang, a columnist and writer, served as mayor of Kalibo from March 1986 to January 1987.

He was shot dead inside his home at Villa Salvacion on Toting Reyes Street, Barangay Andagao, Kalibo, Aklan, on the evening of April 29.

Dayang was also a public relations officer, chairman emeritus of the Aklan Press Club, and former president of the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc.