Declaring them “fugitives” from justice, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo vowed to use “all resources available” in the manhunt for Palawan’s former governor Joel T. Reyes and his brother Mario, both accused of killing an environmentalist-broadcaster.
Robredo, in a text message Friday, said he had also ordered his Office for Internal Security to join hands with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in capturing Reyes and his brother, who is the incumbent mayor of Coron, Palawan province.
“We will use all resources available to secure the arrest of the Reyes brothers,” Robredo said.
Robredo also said he had ordered the recall of the leave of absence of Mayor Reyes as he was now also considered a fugitive.
In Malacañang, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda called on the Reyeses to turn themselves in.
“There are now DILG teams investigating leads on Governor Reyes’ whereabouts,” Lacierda told reporters.
Environmental laws
The Reyes brothers went into hiding after the Regional Trial Court in Puerto Princesa City issued warrants for their arrest and the arrest of several other suspects in the killing of broadcast journalist Gerry Ortega, who was shot in a used-clothes store in Puerto Princesa city on Jan. 24, 2011.
Ortega had criticized Reyes on his radio programs for the latter’s supposed failure to stop abuses and violations of environmental laws allegedly committed by mining companies.
Michaella Ortega, the victim’s eldest daughter, said she had received a text message from Robredo informing her of his manhunt order.
“I ordered [the] manhunt … when we were informed that Reyes will not surrender, contrary to initial information that he might,” Robredo said.
The younger Reyes has not been at work for almost two weeks, according to Coron officials.
Protective custody
Of those ordered arrested by Judge Angelo Arizala, only Romeo Seratubias, a former provincial administrator during the term of Reyes, has been taken into custody.
Also at large are Percival Lecias and Arturo Regalado, both aides of Reyes.
Four other suspects are in the protective custody of the Department of Justice.
They include former Reyes bodyguard Rodolfo “Bumar” Edrad Jr., the confessed organizer of the hit team that shot Ortega and who is now under the witness protection program (WPA); and the alleged members of the hit team who are under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation—Armando Noel Jr., Arwin Arandia and Dennis Aranas.
Hospital arrest rejected
Seratubias refused to enter a plea during his arraignment on Friday, prompting Arizala to enter a “not guilty” plea for him.
Seratubias was implicated in the case as the registered owner of the .45-cal. pistol used by confessed hired killer Marlon Recamata to kill Ortega. He was arrested on Tuesday and detained at the Palawan provincial jail.
Hagedorn’s side
Jail warden Ramon Espina recommended hospital arrest for Seratubias, who reportedly had complained of dizziness and chest pains, but this was turned down by Arizala following an on-the-spot examination by Dr. Louie Ocampo of the provincial health office.
Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn dismissed an insinuation made by Reyes in a recorded message played over local radio station dzIP on Thursday that he was behind efforts to persecute him.
Reyes, in his six-minute message, did not directly accuse Hagedorn but alluded to a “German” politician as being behind supposed efforts to destroy him by linking him to the crime.
“I am saddened by what happened,” Hagedorn told the Inquirer. “My only role here is to see the surrender of Bumar.”
The Ortega family again urged Reyes to submit to the authorities.
“It is curious that he continues to claim innocence while evading arrest. If he is as innocent as he says he is, he should surrender then because he would have nothing to hide,” Michaella Ortega said in a text message to the Inquirer.
Palace appeal
Lacierda rejected insinuations that the government would treat the former governor with kid gloves.
“Hopefully, as a government official, he will be responsible enough to surrender voluntarily,” Lacierda said at a news briefing.
“Since there is a warrant of arrest, the natural course of action for the law enforcement agencies, or for the court sheriff with the assistance of the PNP is to enforce that warrant of arrest,” Lacierda said.
Reyes said in a recorded message aired on a Palawan radio station the other day that he was innocent of the charges against him and that he would face them “at the right time.”
Still in the country
Robredo said in a text message that police trackers had intensified their efforts to locate the Reyes brothers and the other suspects.
“Hiding will not help his case,” Robredo said, referring to the former governor. “We will intensify efforts to get him.”
Robredo said two places the authorities had checked based on information given to them “proved negative.”
“One was in Muntinlupa and the other in Laguna,” Robredo said, adding Reyes could not have possibly left the country as there was not only a warrant for his arrest but a hold-departure order, as well.
“My sense is they are still in the country,” Robredo said, referring to the two brothers.
The PNP spokesman, Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., also said the police were confident that Reyes and the other suspects were still in the country but declined to specify their possible hideouts.
Recamata, the alleged triggerman, said his group was hired for the hit job in exchange for P150,000.—With a report from Norman Bordadora
First posted 12:07 am | Saturday, March 31st, 2012