[Statement] Arrest and jail Joel Reyes, alleged mastermind in Gerry Ortega murder case

Today is the eleven-year death anniversary of broadcaster and environmentalist Dr. Gerry Ortega, who was gunned down in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan on this day in 2011.

Eleven years later, justice is still elusive, and the charged mastermind of his killing remains a fugitive from law.

In a brazen move, not only is former governor Joel Reyes evading his warrant of arrest for Ortega’s killing, he is running for Palawan governor, according to news reports, and is campaigning while a subject of a manhunt.

Reyes, convicted for graft, was released from prison due to still unclear reasons. What is clear is that due to a Court of Appeals directive in 2019, the Regional Trial Court of Puerto Princesa had released an arrest warrant against him for murder.

Reyes continues to hide from this warrant, as he vies to return to power through the Palawan Capitol.

The lack of justice over Doc Gerry’s murder and Reyes’ bid for the governorship despite a graft conviction add to the impunity that has surrounded attacks against journalists as well as land and rights defenders.

We stand with the Ortega family, Doc Gerry’s colleagues and friends in the environmental movement and colleagues in the media in calling for justice and in demanding the service of the arrest warrant against Reyes.

The case of Gerry Ortega is emblematic of the culture of impunity in the country. It reminds us how the powerful seem to make a mockery out of our justice system.

If an elderly man can be arrested for allegedly stealing mangoes, there is little reason for someone accused of being the mastermind of a murder to remain free.

As we commemorate Doc Gerry’s death, we call in voters to junk candidates who violated press freedom and challenge all candidates to respect and uphold the people’s right to access relevant and timely information as well as their right to criticize government policies and practices.