Antonio “Tony” Movera Ajero, 76

DAVAO-BASED COMMUNITY journalist Antonio “Tony” Movera Ajero passed away on Sunday, July 17. He was 76. 

News of Ajero’s passing was announced by media outfit Edge Davao in a social media post encouraging others to share tributes. The veteran journalist passed away in his sleep “after a lingering illness.” Ajero was diagnosed with lung cancer in May of this year.

Ajero was Editor-in-chief of Edge Davao and Chairman of both Edge Davao Review Publishing Inc. and Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc., the newspaper’s publishing company. 

Beloved by his colleagues in media, Ajero was fondly called “AMA” not just for his initials and but also for being a father figure to those he mentored. Ajero was also hailed the “Dean of Davao Journalism” by the local media community in Davao City. Edge Davao gathered tributes from Ajero’s friends and colleagues in a special piece posted on their website on July 18.   

In a separate tribute for Ajero, Neilwin Bravo, Edge Davao’s Managing Editor, attributed the newspaper’s awards to Ajero’s hard work and tireless pursuit of excellence, reflected in the Philippine Press Institute’s (PPI) recognition of Edge Davao as the country’s best edited community newspaper. 

SunStar Davao, where Ajero was also Editor-in-chief from 1995 to 2002 and Publisher from 2002 until retiring in 2008, recognized the great contributions of the late journalist in a statement. 

“He will be remembered as a pillar of the Davao media industry and among the leading figures in the local print industry,” the regional news company wrote. 

SunStar Davao also recalled Ajero’s role as a prominent radio personality at the University of Mindanao’s flagship radio station 819 AM DXUM, and as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) from 2015 to 2018. 

Ajero was born on March 22, 1946. His remains currently lie in state at the Venice Chapel of Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Davao City.