Ortega daughter asks CA to deny Reyes brods' plea

MANILA, Philippines – A daughter of slain environmentalist Dr. Gerry Ortega and supporters staged a rally at the Court of Appeals yesterday to urge the CA to deny a request by former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and his brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, to stop their arrest for Ortega’s murder.

In a statement she read during the rally, Michaella Ortega said impunity does not need an authoritarian regime in order to prevail.

“All it requires is for people in government to turn a blind eye. All it really takes now is for the CA to overlook the outright insolence of the Reyes brothers, who evaded arrest and consistently showed disregard for our laws and our courts,” she said.

Ortega was shot dead in January 2011. The Reyes brothers have reportedly fled the country after a warrant for their arrest was issued.

Michaella said if the CA grants the Reyes brothers’ petition, they will file a motion for reconsideration.