PHILIPPINE National Police chief, General Rommel Francisco Marbil
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Sunday urged Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Mabil to have a direct hand in the solution of the assassination of journalist Jonny Dayang last April 20.
The leader of the 306-member House of Representatives made the appeal in response to the letter of broadcast journalist Rey Langit,
chairman emeritus, Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas-Metro Manila, seeking his support “to ensure that this case is not forgotten and decisive justice is delivered.”
“We share the concern of our journalist-friends. So I am asking General Marbil to take a direct and an active role in solving Johnny Dayang’s murder. He should see to it that justice is done at the soonest possible time,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Speaker Romualdez said he agreed with journalists that the failure of the authorities to catch Dayang’s killer “sends a chilling effect on media practitioners and hampers the performance of their duty to inform the public.”
“It impacts as well on the people’s right to information,” Speaker Romualdez added.
At the same time, the House leader appealed to journalists to trust the PNP in solving Dayang’s murder and other criminal cases.
“We just have to trust them. They are the ones who have the legal mandate, the expertise, the men, and equipment to do this job,” he said.
“Under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Gen. Rommel Marbil and his team have been working diligently to improve public order and safety, as evidenced by a lower crime rate compared to the previous administration,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Speaker Romualdez assured journalists that the administration of President Marcos Jr. is doing all it can to protect media practitioners and solve media killings.
“Proof of this is that Malacañang has a special presidential task force in charge of journalist protection. The task force is also tasked to coordinate the solution of any media killing,” he said.
Dayang, 89, who was chairman emeritus of the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc.), was shot and killed inside his residence, in Kalibo, Aklan.
According to reports, he was watching television when an unidentified assailant wearing a bonnet fired three shots from outside the house, hitting him twice in the neck and back. He was declared dead on arrival at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbocon Memorial Hospital.
Prior to the incident, two unidentified men on a motorcycle were reportedly seen loitering near his residence. The police are now in possession of CCTV footage from the vicinity, but they are still in the dark on the perpetrator and the motive for the killing.
