Police Identify Gunman in Dayang Slay But Mum on Mastermind

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Dayang has made a breakthrough in the killing of veteran journalist Juan “Johnny” Dayang.

Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, Western Visayas police chief, said backtracking operations led investigators to the hotel where the gunman stayed while conducting surveillance on the victim.

The investigation showed the suspect checked in at a hotel in Kalibo on April 3.

He also rented a motorcycle multiple times during his stay.

His critical error, police said, was using his real name when registering at the hotel.

Wanky said the gunman had three known addresses: Cavite, Oriental Mindoro and Marikina.

“He was clearly hired to do it,” Wanky said.

As for the person who hired the suspect, “that’s still part of our ongoing investigation,” he added.

According to the latest report, the suspect is no longer in the region.

Wanky said police are also tracking a local contact who assisted the gunman while he was in Kalibo.

“Based on CCTV footage, he had a companion while staking out the victim’s house days before the killing,” he said.

In a press conference Thursday, Wanky urged the gunman to surrender.

“Other than us, those who hired him may also be hunting him down,” he warned.

The regional police chief also appealed to the suspect’s family to convince him to surrender.

Dayang, 89, was a writer and columnist who served as Kalibo mayor from March 1986 to January 1987.

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

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

In addition to politics, personal issues, and work-related matters, police have added business as a possible motive in his killing.