Former Provincial Information Officer and Spokesperson of Former Palawan Governor Joel T. Reyes confirmed that a new Warrant of Arrest (WOA) for murder has been issued against him by the Regional Trial Court, 4th Judicial Region, Branch 52, dated July 14, 2021.
According to Bonoan, he believed that politics is behind of all this because of the upcoming elections. He said many people are still waiting for him to run again as Governor.
Bonoan also said, they have no other conceivable reason to revive the said case after eight months since it was dismissed by the Court of Appeals before it was amended and is now under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
He added that they do not know whose jurisdiction should prevail and follow in the case, ‘the Supreme Court or the Regional Trial Court which issued the warrant of arrest against Reyes.’
In 2018, the former governor was released after the Court of Appeals dismissed the case against Reyes who is said to be the mastermind in the murder of late broadcaster and environmentalist Dr. Gerry Ortega in 2011.
Reyes’ camp has not yet received an official copy of the WOA while his lawyers are busy for preparing legal action in this regard.