Ortega daughter files rap vs former Palawan gov over tampered passport

Former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The eldest daughter of slain radio broadcaster and environmentalist Gerry Ortega lodged a complaint against murder suspect former Palawan governor Joel Reyes following reports  he, along with his brother Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, fled the country six months ago using a tampered passport.

Mika Ortega, accompanied by her lawyer, went to the Pasay City prosecutor’s office before noon Tuesday to file the complaint in relation to violations of the Philippine Passport Act of 1996, an offense punishable by 6 to 15 years of imprisonment.

According to recent reports, Reyes was able to leave the country for Vietnam on Cebu Pacific Flight 5J751 on March 18 via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 using a passport bearing the name Joseph Lim Pe.

Immigration officials confirmed that the man carrying such a passport took a flight to exit the country last March.

“We have the evidence to file the case. There was a confirmation from the DFA that there was such a name and Reyes tampered the passport with his picture,” Ortega said.

The Reyes brothers have standing warrants of arrest for allegedly masterminding the murder of Gerry Ortega, a hard-hitting radio broadcaster, in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Jan. 24, 2011.

The government has doubled to P2 million the reward for any information that would lead to the arrest of the former Palawan governor.