PNP prepares for Reyes brothers arrival

OFFICIALS of the Philippine National Police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group met on Thursday to prepare for the arrival of former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and his brother, Coron ex-mayor Mario Reyes, who are facing arrest for the killing of broadcaster Gerry Ortega.

“The PNP is taking proactive actions to prepare for their arrival,” said Mayor in a press briefing on Thursday.

Several police sources have confirmed that a coordination conference was held on Thursday morning to discuss the impending arrest of the Reyes brothers who will be flown into the Philippines from Bangkok, Thailand.

CIDG operatives who fetched the Reyes brothers in Bangkok will also escort them back to the country.

Last Sunday, the brothers were arrested by Thai immigration authorities on the island resort of Phuket.

The Reyeses, according to an official privy to the operation, were planning to establish a “fitness club” in Phuket.

Ortega, radio commentator and environmentalist based in Palawan, was a vocal critic of Palawan officials. He was shot dead by a lone gunman in Puerto Princesa City on January 24, 2011.

A former bodyguard of the suspects said the Reyes brothers masterminded Ortega’s murder.

Mayor stressed that warrants of arrest will be served on the murder suspects once they are under the Philippine jurisdiction.

According to the sources, a Philippine Airlines plane will carry the arrested brothers to Manila from Bangkok.

“If the carrier is Philippine Airlines, the law provides that the jurisdiction of a certain aircraft is based on where it is registered. The safest [answer] would be, once you enter the Philippine jurisdiction, the warrant of arrest can be served,” said Mayor.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier revealed that the flight of the Reyeses will leave Bangkok at around 10 p.m. Thursday.

Whether the Reyes brothers would be held in the PNP Custodial Center, Mayor said, it would be for the courts to decide. Julliane Love de Jesus