Ezra Acayan bags second prize in World Press Photo

The body of Michael Nadayao lies in the street after he was shot dead by unidentified men in front of mourners at a wake, in Quezon City, Philippines, on August 31, 2018. Ezra Acayan, World Press Photo

Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines' Ezra Acayan won second prize in the World Press Photo Award for his photograph of an alleged drug personality, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in front of mourners at a wake.

Acayan's photo was chosen second prize in the Spot News category, Singles, behind World Press Photo of the Year winner John Moore.

The photograph shows scene of the crime operatives (SOCO) viewing a body in a casket while working on the crime scene of an alleged victim of an extra-judicial killing in Quezon City in August 2018.

Acayan, has previously been recognized by other award-giving bodies, including the Ian Parry Scholarship Award for Achievement and the Lucie Award for Philippine Photographer of the Year.

His photographs of the drug war along with works by other journalists has been exhibited in other venues in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Acayan has done multimedia work for various outfits such as Reuters, European Pressphoto Agency and Agence France-Presse.