Rights group slams hasty release of ex-Palawan gov

MANILA, Philippines — A rights group expressed outrage yesterday over the hasty release of former Palawan governor Joel Reyes, the alleged mastermind in the killing of environmentalist and broadcaster Gerry Ortega in January 2011.

The Pagkakaisa ng mga Biktima para sa Hustisya said they are one with Ortega’s family in continuing to demand for justice for the slain radioman.

In a statement, Hustisya chair Evangeline Hernandez said it took three years to arrest the Reyes brothers who went into hiding, only for the evidence that point to them as the murderers of Ortega to be thrown away.

Reyes and his brother Mario, a former Coron mayor, left the country in 2012 and were arrested in Thailand in 2015 after they were tagged in the killing of Ortega.

Reyes was released from the Puerto Princesa jail last Friday after the Court of Appeals issued the release order on Jan. 4. 

Ortega’s family expressed disbelief over the CA order, which ordered the Palawan regional trial court to stop hearing the case, saying there was no probable cause. 

The Ortega family said they were shocked over the development and called on the people to continue to remain vigilant.

“We are one with the Ortega family in asking how has it come to this,” Hernandez said, adding the many years spent to seek justice for the radioman were wasted.

The group also slammed the Duterte administration, which it said marked “open season for acquittals and releases of murderers” and other perpetrators of crimes.

“It is appalling that while thousands more demand justice for victims of killings and rights violations under previous regimes, the Duterte regime, in turn, is acquitting and releasing those in jail,” Hernandez said. 

Hernandez said Maj. Harry Baliaga was also acquitted last year of the charges linked to the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos. 

Hustisya said they will hold mass actions to demand justice not only for Ortega, but also other victims of extrajudicial killings under Duterte and previous regimes.

“For us, they might not be the murderers of our children, spouses or kin, but they represent the thousands of killings that have not reached as far as putting the perpetrators to jail. If a case such as Ortega’s or Burgos’ cannot attain justice, what more the poor Filipinos who fall victim to killings, to abductions and other violations?” Hernandez said.

Ortega, also an environmentalist, had been critical of the Reyeses and mining activities in the province in his stint as radio host.