MANILA, Philippines – The bounty for the arrest of fugitive former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and his brother Coron Mayor Mario Reyes for the killing of radio broadcaster Gerry Ortega in Puerto Princesa City on Jan. 24 last year has reached P1.55 million.
In a statement yesterday, Ortega’s eldest daughter Mika said their family and supporters were able to raise P350,000 recently in addition to the P1.2-million initial reward fund.
She said P50,000 was raised during the 50th birthday of her mother, Patty, while running priest Robert Reyes was able to solicit P49,000 from his friends in Puerto Princesa City during his run-for-a-cause last April 24.
Meanwhile, P1,000 was pooled by beneficiaries of the community-based sustainable tourism sites that Ortega set up before he was slain.
“Most surprisingly, over the weekend, two businessmen who also happen to be former supporters of ex-Gov. Reyes went to see the Ortega family privately and donated a generous amount of P250,000 for the bounty. It is very understandable that they both requested anonymity,” Mika said.