'Carreon not yet off the hook in Ortega slay'

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan ,Philippines  – Murder charges against former Marinduque governor Jose Antonio Carreon for the killing of radio broadcaster Gerry Ortega should not be dropped, the family of the victim said yesterday.

Alex Avisado, legal counsel of the Ortega family, said they would file a motion for reconsideration with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The DOJ had filed charges against former Palawan governor Joel Reyes; former Palawan administrator Romeo Serratubias; Reyes’ brother and Coron, Palawan Mayor Mario Reyes; and provincial government employees Arturo Regalado and Percival Lecias but absolved Carreon when it amended the information it filed before the Puerto Princesa regional trial court.

Avisado, however, claimed Carreon referred star witness Rodolfo Edrad, Jr. to the former Palawan governor and looked for the gunman who killed Ortega on Jan. 24, 2011. 

“Since we are alleging conspiracy, the act of one means the act of all,” Avisado said.

Ortega’s daughter Michaella said the DOJ resolution is “a step forward but the road ahead requires even more steps.”  

”We are all being called to commitment against impunity – a call to choose to rage against the killings and pursue justice everyday from hereon out,” Michaella said.