Ortega slay witness found dead in jail

MANILA, Philippines - One of the witnesses in the killing of environmentalist Gerry Ortega ni Palawan province has been found dead, police said Wednesday.

Chief Inspector Job de Mesa, acting chief of the Lucena City police, said Dennis Aranas was found dead in his cell at the uezon District Jail on Tuesday.

De Mesa said that Aranas was found hanging in his cell and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Quezon Medical Center the same day.

He said that they learned of Aranas' death after his brother, Aljon, went to the police station and asked for the witness' death to be investigated.

De Mesa added that the Quezon provincial police is conducting an investigation to determine why officials of the jail facility failed to immediately inform the death of Aranas to the police.

Aranas was the alleged "lookout" in the killing of Ortega. He had a pending separate murder and frustrated murder case in Quezon province.