Ortega's widow vows to seek justice

MANILA, Philippines - The widow of murdered environmentalist and radio commentator Gerry Ortega vowed to seek justice for her husband even as she called on authorities to unmask the real mastermind in the killing.

In a media statement, Patty Ortega maintained that her husband was killed for his series of exposés on alleged corruption in Palawan.

She said she had known her husband to be a fierce and relentless crusader in exposing corruption in Palawan and his passion for protecting the environment during their 23 years of married life.

Mrs. Ortega expressed optimism that in today’s preliminary investigation into the killing of her husband at the Department of Justice, prosecutors will unmask the mastermind in the killing.

Police have arrested the gunman who implicated former Palawan governor Joel Reyes as the alleged mastermind.

Mrs. Ortega suspects that other prominent personalities in Palawan also had a hand in the murder of her husband.

When he was alive, Ortega repeatedly dared in his radio program several Palawan government officials and businessmen to account for alleged missing government funds, including the province’s share from the Malampaya project, she said.

Ortega often read in his radio program a report from the Commission on Audit on alleged malversation of funds in Palawan, she added. 

Reyes has denied all the allegations against him, saying he has “absolute trust in the impartiality” of the DOJ panel of prosecutors.

Reyes said he is confident “that after the evidence and the polluted testimonies of the supposed witnesses have been evaluated, I will be cleared of these charges.”