PANABO CITY (June 16) — Friends of slain journalist Dennis Salvador Denora set up P1.2-million bounty for the identification and capture of the suspects behind his death.
“His friends, former Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, Congressman Antonio Floirendo and well meaning citizens, contributed to set up the bounty for the identification and capture of his killers,” Jane Denora, the widow of Dennis told NewsLine.ph
While grieving over Denora’s death, the family is also facing a blank wall, due to the lack of information about the perpetrators and slow-paced investigation.
The challenges, however, strengthened the Denora’s  “We keep on Praying that God will guide us, that the authorities will be able to unmask the killers, I was told that Task Force Denora was created for Dennis’ case and I am hoping they will be able to find his killers,” Mrs. Denora said.
The family, Mrs. Denora said, cannot point an accusing finger “We don’t know who killed Dennis, because we do not have any evidence as yet, We will wait for the result of the investigation.”
Reports reaching the family revealed, Denora was killed by riding in tandem, but everything is not clear yet “We really do not know what comes next, we really don’t have any idea who killed Dennis,” Mrs. Denora said in deep sigh.
Task Force Denora spokesperson Atty. Louie Padillo told NewsLine.ph “We are still collecting information, we are looking into his work as a journalist and politics, as among the possible motives, but I cannot elaborate further, because the investigation is in progress.”
Padillo said the crime of the scene investigators found three empty shells of fired .45 caliber pistol and a fired cartridge.
“His reports and his publication, we are looking into it now,” Padillo added.
The investigators are still looking for witnesses  “Mahirap kasi, it was 1:00 in the afternoon at masyadong, mainit anng kalsada, wala masyadong tao.”
Being a journalist, Denora was aware of the hazards of his profession. In many instances, Mrs. Denora revealed “I kept asking him, dili ka mahadluk anang imong ginasulat? but he always told me, I am fair, at risk man gyud pirmi ning mediaman.”
Denora, according to his wife,  knew telling the truth is risky “But he pursued, he continued his crusade, he dedicated his time and his life for journalism, but at the end, he gave his life,” a teary-eyed wife said.
Hours before he was killed, Denora watched the NBA Finals Game 4, with his friends. After the game, he left for Tagum City but along the highway he was gunned down.
Informed sources revealed, Denora, occupied the passenger’s seat in front, the windshield was half open. When the traffic light was red, the gunman went close to Denora’s car and fired his gun,  hitting Denora’s right temple.
The morning before his death, Denora was doing his routine work, “There was no premonition, we were all fine,” Mrs. Denora narrated.
It was about 2:00 in the afternoon, when his son received a call, he was rushing, he told his mother  Dennis was shot, “I thought he was just wounded and was hospitalized, I never thought that was the end of Dennis.”
Denora will be laid to rest this afternoon, the Task Force has yet to give substantial update about the case, no witness, persons of interest and, above all no clear leads.
With these realities, the Denora family is keeping fingers crossed that  Justice will prevail for Dennis and for all journalists killed in the performance of their profession.-Editha Z. Caduaya/NewsLine.ph
