Ortega slay suspect alleges bribe attempt

MANILA, Philippines - A suspect in the Jan. 24 killing of broadcaster Gerry Ortega yesterday alleged there was an attempt to bribe him with P25 million to recant his testimony implicating former governors Joel Reyes of Palawan and Jose Antonio Carrion of Marinduque in the murder.

Rodolfo Edrad Jr. alias “Junjun Bumar,” who said he had served as close-in aide for both Reyes and Carrion, made the allegation in a supplemental affidavit submitted during the preliminary investigation at the Department of Justice (DOJ) through lawyer Alex Avisado.

“I have been offered no less than P25 million in exchange for recanting my previous statements against the masterminds of the murder of Dr. Gerry Ortega. I have refused and will continue to refuse any bribe offered to me. The truth cannot be bought. I will not and will never recant,” said Edrad who is now under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Manila.

Edrad alleged that the respondents’ camp “called me and offered all resources for ensuring that I keep quiet” about Ortega’s murder.

He reiterated his testimony that Reyes, through Carrion, allegedly tapped him to hire the other suspects, Marlon Recamata, Dennis Aranas and Armando Noel, to kill Ortega.

He also belied the allegation of Reyes and Carrion in their respective counter-affidavits that he is not credible as shown by inconsistencies in his sworn affidavit dated Feb. 6.

Edrad said he was paid P500,000 but Reyes claimed that he paid the former only P5,000.

Meanwhile, in a statement, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Reyes’ legal counsel, appealed to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to look into the allegation of witness Percival Lecias that NBI agents harassed and intimidated him in the process of taking his testimony about the killing.