DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 7 June) – Davao del Norte-based journalist Dennis Wilfredo Denora was killed after being shot by a lone gunman 1:10 p.m. on Thursday in Barangay New Pandan, Panabo City.
The 67-year-old journalist, publisher of the provincial weekly newspaper Trends and Time, was the sixth Mindanawon journalist and the 10th in the country killed during the Duterte administration, according to Mart D. Sambalud, chair of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Davao City chapter.
Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz , Police Regional Officer (PRO) 11 spokesperson, said Denora was inside his car, a Hyundai Elantra, when a still unidentified gunman shot him and his driver, Mayonito A. Rivera.
Rivera survived two gunshot wounds in his right hand and is now recovering at the Rivera Medical Center, Inc. in Panabo.
Denora succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds on his head. The suspect immediately fled on foot.
The slain journalist’s remains were brought to Villa Funeral Parlor in Barangay Salvacion in Panabo.
Police recovered from the crime scene three fired bullets and one cartridge case believed to be from a caliber .45 pistol.
Sambalud condemned the killing of another Mindanawon journalist, who was an officer and active member of the Davao Region Multi-Media Group (DRMMG).
Sambalud said the latest killing was “a clear assault to press freedom, and it amplifies the existing climate of fear among journalists who are working in their local community.”
“His death underscores the worsening state of media killings in the country. With this, we want the government to take concrete actions to stop these senseless killings by speedily resolving these cases and bring people who attacked journalists to justice,” he said.
Sambalud called on the Presidential Task Force on Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of the Members of the Media, to immediately investigate, identify, arrest and prosecute those behind Denora’s death.
The five other slain journalist’s from Mindanao were Apolinario Suan Jr. of Surigao del Sur, Marlon Muyco of Kidapawan City, Rudy Alicaway of Zamboanga del Sur, Leodoro Diaz of Sultan Kudarat, and Christopher Lozada of Bislig City. There were also three from Luzon (Larry Que of Catanduanes, Mario Cantaoi of Ilocus Sur, and Joaquin Briones of Masbate) and one from Visayas (Edmund Sestoso of Dumaguete). (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)