Palace trusts de Lima to oppose Reyes brods’ hospital arrest request

LIVING IT UP IN THAI RESORT. Former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother, former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, lived well on the resort island of Phuket in Thailand. Unknown to them, phoning home to the Philippines would lead authorities to their hideout. PNP-PIO

Malacañang on Saturday said it is highly improbable that the Reyes brothers, who are suspects to the killing of radio broadcaster and environmentalist Gerry Ortega, will be granted hospital arrest.

“(Justice) Secretary (Leila) de Lima will have a strong position on that,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said of former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes. “Certainly, the prosecutors will have something to say about their proposed motion to file for hospital arrest.”

READ: Reyes brothers lived in a villa, drove an SUV as fugitives

“Alam naman po natin na bago po sila [umuwi] very recently ay parang mga turista po ang kanilang pamumuhay doon sa Thailand,” Valte added over state-run Radyo ng Bayan.

(We know that before they were brought back to the Philippines, they lived as tourists in Thailand.)

Valte was referring to reports that the two might seek hospital arrest, as well as photos showing the brothers seemingly enjoying a vacation in Phuket, Thailand.

Rod Valmoria, the brothers’ lawyer, earlier tried to secure an “executive checkup” for the two. He said Mario had a fever while Joel had hypertension.

READ: From Crame, Reyes brothers to be flown to Palawan

The Reyeses fled the Philippines in 2012 following the issuance of arrest warrants after Ortega’s assassin pointed to another man who tagged the former governor in the murder plot.

Valte said the Executive branch will let the Justice department and the Palawan Regional Trial Court to decide on the matter.

READ: De Lima bids adieu to DOJ

The undersecretary also assured the public that the Ortega case will not be taken for granted after de Lima steps down as justice secretary to pursue her electoral plans.

She said that law enforcement authorities have worked hard to arrest the two former officials, who are among the country’s “Big Five” fugitives.

“Hindi lang po ‘yung kaso ng magkapatid na Reyes ang hindi po mapapabayaan, ngunit ‘yung marami pa rin pong mga kaso,” Valte said.

(We will ensure that the case of the Reyes brothers will not be neglected, as well as many other cases.) Kristine Angeli Sabillo/RAM