Reyes no-show anew in DOJ slay probe

MANILA, Philippines -  Former Palawan governor Joel Reyes did not show up at the Department of Justice (DOJ) again yesterday to answer allegations that he was behind the Jan. 24 killing of broadcaster Gerry Ortega in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

This developed as Justice Secretary Leila de Lima inhibited herself from the case because she had served as election lawyer of Reyes.

For the second hearing yesterday, Reyes again just sent his legal counsel, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, and did not submit a counter-affidavit on the murder complaint filed against him by Ortega’s wife Patty.

Topacio told reporters that his client was not yet ready to appear before the investigating panel chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edwin Dayog, as they have not yet received all records, including ballistic reports, paraffin test results and other documents necessary to prepare Reyes’ counter-affidavit.

Mrs. Ortega believes that Reyes’ camp was employing dilatory tactics in the DOJ probe.

“This is what we are afraid of – that they will delay the process so they can find ways to convince our witnesses to recant their stories or to buy them or maybe kill them,” she told reporters after the closed-door hearing.

She said Reyes’ continued absence in the hearing only means “he is having a hard time to answer and clear his name.”

Yesterday’s hearing focused on the testimonies of three suspects who either surrendered or were arrested and implicated Reyes in the killing – Marlon Ricamata, alias Marvin Alcaraz; Dennis Aranas and Arwin Arandia, who all affirmed their affidavits before the DOJ panel.

Ricamata reportedly confessed to a Palawan judge last Feb. 11 that he was the one who shot Ortega. Aranas, the alleged lookout, and Arandia, who was initially hired to kill Ortega but later backed out, both gave themselves up to authorities.

The DOJ panel set the next hearing on March 17. De Lima ordered the proceedings to be open to the media.

De Lima recalled lawyering for Reyes in an election case when the latter ran for Palawan governor.

“I remember it was a pre-proclamation controversy when I handled his case. I would be inhibiting when the case would reach my office at the proper stage. I would be assigning it to an undersecretary,” she said.

In Monday’s hearing, Rodolfo Edrad alias Junjun Bumar and two other suspects – Valentin Lesias and Armando Noel alias Salbakuta – submitted sworn statements to the DOJ panel.

Edrad surrendered two weeks ago and admitted that he was the one who hired the gunman allegedly upon Reyes’ orders.

Last Feb. 14, Mrs. Ortega sought Reyes’ indictment based on the testimonies of the suspects.

Mrs. Ortega also implicated Reyes’ brother and Coron Mayor Mario Reyes Jr., who allegedly gave the money to the gang hired to kill Ortega, and former Marinduque governor Jose Carreon as accessories to the crime.

Accompanied by lawyer Harry Roque Jr., Mrs. Ortega reiterated that she sees no reason not to believe Edrad’s admission, which the other arrested suspects corroborated.