THE Presidential Task Force on Media Security supports the move of the Office of the Solicitor General in asking the Supreme Court to have former Palawan governor Mario Joel Reyes re-arrested for his alleged role in the murder of anti-corruption crusader, staunch environmentalist, and broadcaster Dr. Gerry Ortega in Puerto Princesa City in 2011.
PTFoMS chief Undersecretary Joel M. Sy Egco issued the statement even as he expressed the belief that the evidence of guilt of Reyes is strong in the criminal case file against him.
“The Presidential Task Force shares the sentiments of the OSG in its motion to lift the TRO which is preventing the re-arrest of the former governor. We believe that the evidence of guilt is strong in the criminal case filed against Reyes in connection with the slaying of Gerry Ortega,” Egco said, in a statement.
The PTFoMS chief had also backed the OSG in initiating an investigation to find anomaly regarding the Court of Appeals’ 2018 decision to release Reyes from detention due to the alleged insufficiency of evidence in the murder case.
In 2019, the CA reinstated the murder charges against the former Palawan governor.
In its 62-page comment, the OSG also asked the SC magistrates to dismiss the petition for review filed by Reyes at the SC.
Ortega was gunned down on January 24, 2011 in Puerto Princesa City after the airing of his radio program “Ramatak.” He was considered by many as an “environmental hero” in Palawan.
Marlon Recamata, the gunman, was arrested and pleaded guilty to murder in February 2011.
Reyes was tagged by a former bodyguard, Rodolfo Edrad, as the mastermind behind the killing of Ortega, who had criticized the former Palawan governor for the supposed destruction of the environment in the province.
Also implicated in the killing is his brother, former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes. The two are running for governor and mayor, respectively, in the May 9 elections.
Senatorial candidate and former Bayan Muna party-list representative Neri Colmenares called the TRO for the re-arrest of the mastermind behind Ortega’s murder a “great injustice” for the people of Palawan.
Colmenares, also a human rights lawyer, called the SC TRO preventing Reyes’ re-arrest questionable as other inmates continue to languish in cramped detention facilities.
“With the SC setting aside their arrest while they appeal the case, it begs the question, what makes former Gov. Reyes special that he gets the privilege of a TRO while other detainees continue to languish inside cramped detention facilities, despite the weaknesses of their cases?” Colmenares said.
