Aquino administration slammed over Reyes’ escape

The Joseph Lim Pe passport used by former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes to sneak out of the country.

MANILA, Philippines—The escape of former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes “smacks of the height of mockery of the justice system,” human rights Karapatan said in a statement.

Sources said Reyes managed to sneak out of the country using a different name, a week before the Palawan Court issued a warrant for his arrest.

The source said Reyes used a passport with the name Joseph Lim Pe when he travelled to Vietnam via Cebu Pacific flight 5J751 last March. The passport was issued on February 3, 2012.

“The reported escape of Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes smacks of the height of mockery of the justice system under [the Aquino administration]-where justice cannot be expected from this government-that human rights violators like Reyes, General [Jovito] Palparan and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can walk freely from their accountabilities. This is justice…the kind that earns the wrath of the Filipino people,” Tinay Palabay, Karapatan Spokesperson said in a statement.

The Bureau of Immigration, through Spokesperson Maria Antonette Mangrobang said they are still verifying the information.