PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines — Detained murder suspects, former Palawan Governor Joel T. Reyes and his brother Mario, filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for mayor and vice mayor, respectively, of their hometown Coron on Thursday, afternoon.
Coron Assistant Election Officer Marilyn Cabiguen told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the Reyes brothers filed as independent candidates through a legal representative, as they have been locked up at the Puerto Princesa City Jail facing trial for the 2011 murder of broadcaster and environmentalist Dr. Gerry Ortega.
The ex-governor’s filing ended local speculations he was eyeing a gubernatorial run against incumbent Gov. Jose Chaves Alvarez. Incumbent Coron Mayor Clara Reyes, the wife of Joel Reyes, has not filed her candidacy for any position and may opt to give way to her husband completely, according to local sources.
Mario was the mayor of Coron before he was implicated in the Ortega murder and went into hiding.
The former governor and his brother, both fugitives for over three years until their capture in Phuket, Thailand, last month, are facing a murder charge before the Regional Trial Court in Puerto Princesa as alleged masterminds in the Ortega slay.
Joel Reyes will face two other candidates for the coveted mayoralty post of the prime tourist town in northern Palawan’s Calamianes Island Group. They are former provincial board Member Jim Gerald Pe (Nationalist People’s Coalition) and top Coron Councilor Gerry Barracoso. SFM