Ortega daughter asks De Lima to resolve petition for review
The daughter of slain environmentalist and radio commentator Gerardo “Gerry” Ortega on Friday urged Secretary Leila de Lima to resolve a pending petition before she steps down as Department of Justice (DOJ) head and reportedly run for the Senate.
Mika Ortega told Radyo Inquirer 990AM that De Lima has yet to act on a petition for review submitted by their family in September 2011.
The suspects in her father’s killing, former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and former Coron mayor Mario Reyes, were arrested in Bangkok and flown into the Philippines on Friday morning. They are expected to be brought back to Palawan to face the murder case filed against them.
READ: Reyes brothers arrive in PH | Reyes brothers extradited on Thursday
“Alam nating naging makapangyarihan si ex-gov at marami syang koneksyon,” Mika said, adding that it was the reason why he was able to flee the Philippines in the first place. “Panawagan namin, sana patunayan ni Secretary De Lima na wala naman silang koneksyon.”
(We know that the ex-governor had been powerful and he had a lot of connections. Our call is for Secretary De Lima to prove that they do not have a connection.)
Mika said De Lima was honest with them and admitted that she was a former lawyer of Joel Reyes.
“We appreciate that,” she said.
However, Mika said De Lima now has to resolve their petition for review, which questions the findings of the first panel of prosecutors assigned to investigate the case. The first panel dismissed the charges against the Reyes brothers for insufficiency of evidence.
READ: CA affirms ruling clearing Palawan gov in Ortega death
At that time, instead of responding to the Ortega family’s petition, De Lima chose to create a second panel. The new set of prosecutors filed a case in court, which resulted in the issuance of warrants of arrest against the two suspects.
However, the Court of Appeals questioned De Lima’s decision.
Fears
Mika explained that her family fears that the Reyes brothers would do everything for the case to be dismissed.
“At kung ganun po ang mangyayari ay gagamitin nila ang issue ng technicality,” she said. “Yun po yung nakakalungkot. Ang gusto natin ebidensya ang pinag-uusapan hindi po yung kung ano lang ang naging proseso.”
(And if that is the case, they will use the issue of technicality. That is what’s saddening. We want the evidence to be discussed, not the just the process.)
She said it has been four years but De Lima has yet to resolve the technical issue.
Mika added that De Lima can stand by her decision as long she responds to the petition that the case has probable cause.
Mika said her family is closely monitoring the news about the Reyes brothers. She said that they are content with how the two our being treated — without VIP or special treatment.
She said they are looking forward to the day that the Reyes brothers will face the Palawan Regional Trial Court.
Ortega was a known environmentalist based in Palawan. He has also been an outspoken radio broadcaster who spoke about corruption in the local government and the misuse of the Malampaya funds.
On January 24, 2011, the 47-year-old radio commentator was shot by a lone assailant in a used-clothing store in Puerto Princesa. A suspect was caught with the help of bystanders. Marlon Recamata confessed to the killing but said it was a certain Rodolfo Edrad Jr. who paid him P150,000 to kill Ortega.
Edrad used to be a close-in security personnel of Palawan Governor Joel Reyes. He claimed that the former Palawan governor and former Marinduque Governor Jose Antonio Carreon ordered the assassination of Ortega. Kristine Angeli Sabillo, INQUIRER.net and Radyo Inquirer 990AM/CDG
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