PATRICIA Ortega (first from right), wife of murdered environmentalist and broadcaster Gerry Ortega, announces in a press conference that the murder case against the Reyes brothers continues. With her are Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn and lawyer Alex Avisado. NINO JESUS ORBETA FILE PHOTO
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—The family of slain Palawan environmentalist and radio journalist Dr. Gerry Ortega has asked Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II to conduct a full-blown investigation into the death of prosecution witness Dennis Aranas, after an autopsy conducted by the Public Attorney’s Office showed the inmate was murdered and did not hang himself as jail officials had claimed.
“Our family demands a full-blown investigation. We call on DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, who said should there be proof of a cover-up he will deal due punishment to the guilty,” said Michaella “Mika” Ortega, the journalist’s eldest daughter.
In a press statement Tuesday, Mika said “there is proof, dear Secretary.”
Earlier, a PAO-led autopsy found Aranas was strangled to death by a group of men. The findings contradicted an earlier report made by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology that Aranas killed himself by hanging inside the Quezon provincial jail in Lucena City.
“There was foul play. Dennis Aranas was murdered with extreme prejudice,” Mika said.
She accused BJMP and medico-legal authorities of the National Bureau of Investigation, that conducted the initial autopsy, of being “incompetent or they are lying.”
“Remember, they said Aranas died of asphyxiation by hanging, whereas PAO rules this out as there are no indications of such,” Mika added.
The Inquirer tried to interview Superintendent Annie Espino, Quezon provincial jail warden, but she politely declined.
She said since the investigation is now being handled by the police and the NBI, “they are the authorities who can provide the latest developments.”
Aranas had allegedly served as a lookout of the hit group that stalked and killed the journalist inside a used clothing store in Puerto Princesa City on January 24, 2011.
The alleged triggerman in the Ortega killing, Marlon Recamata, said he now fears for his life, following the mysterious death of Aranas.
“I wish I could be admitted to the Witness Protection Program,” Recamata told the Inquirer on Monday in an interview inside his jail cell at the Puerto Princesa City Police Headquarters precinct.
Recamata is also facing a separate case of resisting authority filed February 11, 2009 under case docket number 10492-09 in the sala of Judge Maria May Zafranco-Redor in Pagbilao, Quezon. He is not facing murder charges in the same sala as reported in an earlier Inquirer story.
Bernadette Del Fiero, court clerk, said Recamata was able to post bail of P1,000 on January 17, 2011. “So, he is now out on bail,” Del Fiero told the Inquirer Monday. She said a hearing was scheduled on March 11.
But in light of the distance between the provinces of Palawan and Quezon and the sensitive nature of the Ortega slay case, Del Fiero said the Pagbilao court will understand if Recamata could not attend the hearing.