DOJ probes death of alleged lookout in Ortega murder case

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice will launch an investigation into the death of Dennis Aranas, the alleged lookout in the hit team in the Gerry Ortega murder, a report on Radyo Inquirer 990 AM said Thursday.

According to the report, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said the DOJ probe will determine the cause of death of Aranas.

Aranas was found dead by strangulation at the Lucena provincial jail last Wednesday morning, according to the wife of the victim.

Aranas was the second witness in the slaying of the Palawan journalist to die. The first witness, Valentin Lecias, died last year due to liver failure. John Daryl Dimalanta