Inter-agency task force to probe journalist slay in Panabo

DAVAO CITY--An inter-agency task force is taking over the investigation into the killing of Panabo City-based publisher and journalist Dennis Denora.

This was bared by Senior Supt. Allan Manibog, Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office director, on Wednesday, who added that the task force is in line with President Rodrigo's Administrative Order No.1 creating the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) headed by Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco.

"The SITG (Special Investigation Tasked Group) Denora we formed is already incorporated in this task force," Manibog said.

Manibog is directly reporting to Egco, who has asked for regular updates and instructed the police official to leave no stone unturned in finding the perpetrators and the immediate resolution of the case.

Manibog said Task Force Denora will be composed of the Philippine National Police, representatives from the Department of Justice such as the Tagum City Prosecutor's Office and National Bureau of Investigation, and Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Manibog said the task force is now focusing on the identification of the gunman in Denora’s murder. The provincial police chief said investigators are evaluating the Closed Circuit Television Camera (CCTV) footages around the crime scene because this might help in the investigation.

Manibog, who is co-chair of the task group along with Tagum City Prosecutor Noel Palma, said investigators already submitted Denora's cellphone for forensic examination in a bid to extract information relating to the journalist's murder.

The investigators are also looking for possible persons of interest in the case, based on information they received. Manibog declined to provide further details while the investigation is ongoing.

Manibog said investigators are considering all possible motives in Denora's killing, including personal grudge and work as a journalist.

"But we will not focus on the motives yet because we are concentrating on the identification of the assailant," he said. Once the suspect is identified and arrested, Manibog said more information will be revealed, including the identity of a possible mastermind behind the killing of Denora.

Denora was shot to death by an unidentified gunman at past 1 p.m. on June 7 along a busy road in Panabo City.

Denora was fatally shot on the head while his driver, Mayonito Rivera, sustained two gunshot wounds on the right hand. Recovered from the crime scene were three fired bullets and a fired cartridge believed to be from a .45 caliber pistol. (Armando Fenequito Jr/PNA)