Groups: CA release of Reyes a 'triple-whammy letdown' for justice

MANILA, Philippines — A lawyers' group on Tuesday slammed the "miraculous" Court of Appeals release order for former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes over the murder of environmentalist and broadcaster Gerry Ortega.

NUPL president Edre Olalia, in a statement sent to Philstar.com, said that the CA decision is the latest in the "contemporaneous rulings" of the appellate court that "demonstrate a triple-whammy letdown to those who still resort to our justice system for remedies."

The CA's Former 11th Division Special Division of Five, voting 3-2, ordered Reyes released from detention for lack of probable cause in  Ortega's murder seven years ago. The CA ruled the Palawan Regional Trial Court Branch 58 committed grave abuse of discretion when it issued the arrest order.

Olalia, while lamenting what he called a letdown of the justice system, stressed that: "The indignation we express must also be consistent and not selective for one and not for the others. Justice for one must be justice for all."

Olalia recalled the other CA rulings such as the Former 11th Division of the CA decision that barred a local court from observing the deposition of convicted drug mule and human trafficking victim Mary Jane Veloso, and the "wholesale rejection" of the martial law claimants in the $2-billion estate of Ferdinand Marcos, the ousted dictator whom he described as a "kleptocrat."

The CA ruling on Reyes' release was penned by Associate Justice Normandie Pizzaro, who also penned the ruling on the $2-billion Marcos estate and acquitted pork barrel mastermind Janet Napoles.

Journalists call out 'shocking' Reyes release

Groups of journalists also condemned the "shocking release from jail" of Reyes.

National Press Club president Paul Gutierrez, also in a statement, "condemned, in the strongest terms," the said CA decision that, "under close scrutiny even by their other colleague in the chamber, is also clearly highly questionable."

Two members of the CA's Former 11th Division of Five said that the ruling on the release is premature as a "full-blown trial" has yet to start.

Associate Justices Maria Filomena Singh and Marie Christine Azcarraga-Jacob issued their respective dissenting opinions that said that the local court judge handling the case is tasked with determining the "probable cause" and not "certainty of the guilt of the accused." Jacob said that the proper course for the case is a court trial.

Gutierrez added: "The 'message' this ruling means to convey is that, the culture of impunity remains ascendant in our society and that justice remains tilted in favor of the moneyed and the influential."

The NPC also commended Malacañang for committing to use all legal remedies to overturn the decision. 

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said that it remains watchful of the case of their slain colleague.

The NUJP said that it is appalled by the decision and stressed it will continue to stand by the family and friends of Ortega as it continues to exhaust avenues to "right the grievous wrong" done to their colleague.

It added: "We cannot, we will not, stand idly by and allow this to be another entry in the long and painful history of impunity in this country."

The Office of the Solicitor General is currently representing the Palawan court, which was named respondent in the case. The OSG can still file a motion for reconsideration for the case.

The OSG has yet to reply to a request for comment as of this report.