New arrest raises hopes for capture of Reyes brothers

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—The family of slain journalist Doc Gerry Ortega expressed relief over the arrest early Sunday of Percibal Lecias (alias Valentin Lecias), an aide of fugitive former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes, and hoped that the Reyes brothers would fall next.

On Monday afternoon, Judge Angelo Arizala, of Branch 52 of the Regional Trial Court here, ordered the commitment of Lecias to the Puerto Princesa City jail.

The family of Ortega released a statement Sunday saying the arrest of Lecias was a relief to them and gave them “much hope” that the former governor, the accused mastermind, and his brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, would soon be arrested.

The Ortega family said Lecias was the person who allegedly bought the licensed gun from Romeo Seratubias, former provincial administrator,  which was used to kill Ortega.

Lecias allegedly took the gun from Seratubias and handed it to Arturo “Nonoy” Regalado who, in turn, handed the gun to the hit team.

Prior to the involvement of Lecias in the case, he was the official photographer of Palawan Vice Gov. Clara “Fems” Reyes, the wife of former Governor Reyes.

The statement of Ortega’s family added that as they continued to campaign for the arrest of the Reyes brothers, another individual offered to donate money to add to the bounty for the Reyes brothers.

“Although we don’t know how much yet, we are very grateful for the individuals and groups who are taking the initiative in helping our family find justice,” the statement said.

“We will not stop fighting for justice until the day the guilty are punished accordingly,” it added.

Lecias, 44, was arrested by agents of a composite unit led by the Special Operations Group, an enforcement arm of the city government of Puerto Princesa, after weeks of surveillance that led them to the suspect’s hideout in Barangay Caniogan, Pasig City, on Sunday.

The Reyes brothers are the two remaining fugitives in the Ortega murder case.