Former Palawan Governor Joel T. Reyes INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes on Wednesday assailed the decision of a Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors to revive a murder case against him in connection with the killing last year of broadcaster-environmentalist Gerardo “Doc Gerry” Ortega.
“The true masterminds are laughing their heads off at this moment. Yet, I don’t lose hope because I’m convinced justice will be served eventually in due time,” Reyes said in a brief statement.
In a resolution released on Tuesday, the prosecutors reversed a previous DOJ panel finding and recommended the filing of a murder complaint against Reyes; his brother, Mayor Mario Reyes Jr. of Coron, Palawan; former Palawan Administrator Romeo Seratubias, Arturo Regalado and Valentin Lecias.
They found “probable cause” in including anew the former governor in the complaint, citing the exchange of text messages purportedly between him and Rodolfo Edrad Jr. as indicating guilt.
Edrad, formerly a close-in security guard of Reyes, claimed that he contracted the services of the gunman and his associates for P150,000, and that the Reyes brothers funded the operation to kill Ortega.
Ortega was shot and killed while shopping in a used clothing store in Puerto Princesa City on Jan. 24, 2011. He had bullet wounds in the head and body.
Charged with the murder earlier by the DOJ were Edrad, Armando R. Noel, Dennis C. Aranas and Arwin L. Arandia.
Media pressure?
“I hope this is not a persecution of justice resulting from media pressure because of unsolved media killings in the country, that this is not a demonstration of sacrificing justice in the altar of public opinion,” Reyes said.
He said the reversal of a past DOJ decision “may create confusion in the minds of the public and perhaps question the integrity of the justice department in its ability to render firm and steadfast decisions.”
In a press conference held in Manila, Ortega’s daughters, Michaella and Ericka, said the family was preparing for the court battle to get justice for their father.
“My family would like to thank the DOJ for allowing the reinvestigation and evaluating my father’s case based on its merits. Now we can move on to the next phase, which, strictly speaking, is the longer and harder battle,” Michaella said.
Describing the decision to resurrect the murder complaint against Reyes as “most disheartening,” his lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, said the prosecutors were “succumbing to political pressure and trial by publicity.”
Topacio said “no new evidence was presented to corroborate the claim of the lone witness (Edrad) against Governor Reyes.”
‘Clear case of persecution’
“This is truly a clear case of persecution, and an unhappy demonstration of sacrificing truth and justice on the altar of public opinion and political ambition,” Topacio said.
The prosecutors saw Ortega’s criticisms on air against Reyes as motive to have the broadcaster “silenced.”
But Reyes’ camp pointed out that Ortega was an active critic not only of the former governor but of other personalities in Palawan.
The Ortega family’s lawyer, Alex Avisado, said he would file a motion for partial reconsideration so that another alleged conspirator in the murder, former Marinduque Governor Bong Carreon, would be included.
The family also plans to request the DOJ and the court to issue watch-list and hold-departure orders against Reyes and the new set of suspects, Avisado said. Jerome Aning