‘Simply and conveniently dismissing a killing because no suspect can be identified merely cements our ignominious standing in global impunity.’
LESS than three months ago, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that 2024 was the first time in 20 years that no journalist was killed in the Philippines.
It would have been one of the highlights of the celebration of World Press Freedom Day on Saturday. But that distinction vanished quickly when, the other day, 89-year-old Juan “Johnny” Dayang was shot dead in his home in Kalibo, Aklan.
Veteran is an understatement for Dayang, who once said his career began as a teenage cub reporter for a provincial college publication.
Dayang rose to become publisher of the revived Philippines Graphic and columnist for the Manila Bulletin. He also headed the National Press Club, the Publishers Association of Philippines, and the Manila Overseas Press Club.
According to news reports, Dayang was watching TV when a lone gunman fired at him. He was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.
The New York-based CPJ, which lists the Philippines as ninth in its 2024 Global Impunity Index rankings, counts a journalist’s death as a “murder” if the killing, whether premeditated or spontaneous, targeted a journalist in direct reprisal for the journalist’s work.
No motive has yet been advanced in Dayang’s killing. He was never known to have been involved in any public scandal or controversy. One of his advocacies was the decriminalization of libel and cyberlibel.
“There are many cheaters in government who only get a slap on the wrist from the courts when convicted,” he wrote in 2020 in his opinion column, “But when journalists are found guilty [of libel], things can go messy. Even if jail time is part of the risks of the media profession, such assertion is contrary to norms and is a naked violation of press freedom.”
Press freedom, which our Constitution protects, refers to the rights of journalists and news organizations to publish information and opinion without interference, censorship or retaliation, particularly from powerful entities. And rather than giving us reason to celebrate press freedom day in two days, we find ourselves mourning the death of a colleague who shared our goal of providing fellow citizens with reliable information with which to make quality decisions.
A most notable plan of action on the safety of journalists was launched six years ago, identifying five “flagship” areas, the most important of which, to us, is strengthening mechanisms for the press to respond to threats and attacks, legal, verbal, as well as violent.
This recent murder is a sign that we are far from claiming a resounding victory in safety and protection mechanisms.
This newspaper, whose name is dedicated to freedom of expression, joins the entire journalism community in condemning
Dayang’s killing, as we should every murder, in the strongest terms. We offer our condolences to his bereaved family and whisper a prayer for his eternal repose. And we urge law enforcement to investigate Dayang’s death.
Simply and conveniently dismissing a killing because no suspect can be identified merely cements our ignominious standing in global impunity.
