AKLAN Rep. Teodoro Haresco and former Sen. Manny Pacquiao condemned the killing of veteran journalist Juan “Johnny” Dayang, who was shot in his home in Aklan last Tuesday.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutal killing of Johnny in his beloved home province of Aklan. This act of violence is a deep wound to our community and to the values he upheld throughout his life,” Haresco said.
Haresco said Dayang was a “towering figure not just in Aklan but in the entire Philippine media landscape.
“He was a proud Aklanon—a man of conviction who carried the voice of our province to the national stage,” he said.
Pacquiao, who is running for senator under the administration’s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate, called for justice, saying “the murder of a journalist is not just an attack on one person, it is an attack on democracy, truth, and every Filipino’s right to be informed.”
“I call on our law enforcement agencies and justice system to act swiftly and decisively. Show the world that in the Philippines, justice is not blind nor silent, especially when truth-tellers are silenced,” he said.
Pacquiao extended his condolences to the Dayang family and expressed solidarity with the media while reaffirming his support for freedom of the press.
“A free press is the lifeblood of a free nation,” he said. “If elected, I will push for stronger protection for journalists, harsher penalties for those who harm them, and unwavering support for press freedom in every form.”
