Human Rights Online Philippines

Kin, activists mark 1st year of Ortega slay
By Philip Tubeza, Redempto Anda
Inquirer Southern Luzon, Philippine Daily Inquirer
January 25, 2012

 Environmentalists and human rights activists renewed their call for justice for slain Palawan broadcaster Gerry Ortega as they marked his first death anniversary Tuesday with simultaneous protest actions in Manila and Puerto Princesa.

Family members and protesters called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to speed up the filing of charges against the former Palawan Gov. Joel T. Reyes and former Marinduque Gov. Antonio “Bong” Carreon, whom they alleged to be the masterminds.

A three-man DOJ panel in June last year had dismissed the allegations against Reyes and some others. However, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima formed a new panel to review the case and receive new evidence.
Ortega’s eldest daughter, Mika, claimed in a press conference on Monday that the family had submitted to the DOJ panel “more than enough evidence … to establish probable cause (against Reyes).”

“We’re hoping to finally go to trial,” Mika added.
In a court hearing  against an arrested suspect, Marlon Recamata, the prosecution’s star witness yesterday formally repeated allegations that Reyes and Carreon had conspired to kill the broadcaster.

The witness, Rodolfo Edrad Jr., said to be Reyes’ former security aide, told the judge he was ordered by Reyes to kill Ortega and another journalist, and had hired Recamata to do the job for P150,000.

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