Dennis Denora

Dennis Denora (c. 1951 – June 7, 2018) was a Filipino journalist and publisher best known for his weekly publication Trends and Times. He lived in Davao del Norte, Philippines, where he wrote about the history, events, and issues of the province. On June 7, 2018, Denora was murdered by two motorcyclists while stuck in traffic with his driver Mayonito Revira.

Biography

Denora lived in Davao del Norte, working as a columnist, broadcaster, and publisher.

Death Events On June 7, 2018, Denora was riding in a white Hyundai Elantra with his driver, Mayonito Revira, on the national highway in New Pandan, Panabo City. At approximately ten past one in the afternoon, they were ambushed while in traffic by two men riding a motorcycle, who shot Denora multiple times in the head and body and Revira twice in his right hand. After the attack, Revira was able to drive approximately 300 meters to escape the assailants. A Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) called "Task Force Denora" was created to investigate the murder, consisting of a Deputy Regional Director for Operations, Provincial Director, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Provincial Crime Laboratory Office, the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch, and a Provincial Legal Officer. Reporters questioned former Speaker of the House of Representatives Pantaleon Alvarez about the incident due to his previous lawsuit against Denora for libel. Police Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde proposed that stickers be attached to every motorcycle in the country to facilitate the identification of suspects. Roque stated that Duterte was considering "radical changes" such as the declaration of a state of national emergency. Floirendo Jr. went on to honor Denora as a man of "decency, integrity, and a strong commitment to seek the journalistic truth." At the event, NUJP Chairperson Jo Clemente stated, "This should be the last. The list of journalists killed in the Philippines should not increase."

International reactions Daniel Bastard, the head of Reporters without Borders' Asia Pacific desk, wrote in a statement that "the current government keeps on pointing to this task force, created in October 2016, as evidence of its desire to protect journalists but this is the 6th journalist to be murdered since Rodrigo Duterte became president. The authorities must take more concrete measures to guarantee journalists' safety."

Audrey Azoulay, the Director General of UNESCO, condemned the murder, saying that "it is essential for freedom of expression and press freedom, for democracy and rule of law, that the authorities ensure this crime does not go unpunished."