Ortega kin picket court

ORTEGA CASE Relatives and supporters of murdered Palawan environmentalist Gerry Ortega urge the Court of Appeals in Manila to uphold the arrest warrants issued by a lower court against the suspects, former Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Family members and supporters of slain Palawan radio broadcaster and environmentalist Dr. Gerry Ortega on Monday held a picket on the Court of Appeals (CA) grounds in Manila to ask the appellate court to deny the appeal for dismissal of the suspects’ murder case.

Ortega’s daughter Mika led supporters and cause-oriented groups such as the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines in opposing the petition filed by former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and his brother, former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes.

The Reyes brothers were charged in a Palawan trial court with the murder of Ortega in January last year. They have been in hiding since March this year and are believed to have fled the country.

“We would like to ask the court not to give in to the petition of the Reyes brothers to dismiss the charges against them at the Department of Justice and the warrant of arrest issued by the trial court,” Mika Ortega said.

“We can see they have a disrespect for our courts and our laws so why grant them relief?’” she said.

Ortega said reports reaching her family revealed that efforts were being made by the Reyes camp to “maneuver things” at the Court of Appeals (CA). Christine O. Avendaño