AFP News - 17 hours ago
Palawan ex-governor Joel Reyes and Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, suspects in the murder of broadcaster Gerry Ortega, are officially fugitives, Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said.
In a text message to Yahoo! Southeast Asia, Robredo said the Department of Interior and Local Government launched the manhunt early Thursday morning "when we were informed that the Reyeses will not surrender contrary to initial information that they might."
The manhunt is being conducted by DILG-Office of Internal Security. They are coordinating with the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Robredo said.
In a recorded message aired Thursday morning, the former governor said he will not surrender but he would face the charge against him at the proper time.
He said he was in hiding "not to run away from justice but in order to avoid the persecution, ridicule and accusations that are being thrown at me without basis."
Mayor Reyes, has been on leave of absence from his duties as Coron town mayor, Robredo said. Now that he is a fugitive from justice, that leave will be recalled.
"We will use all resources available to secure the arrest of the Reyes brothers," Robredo told Yahoo! Southeast Asia.
The Reyeses are suspected of being behind the death of Ortega, who was gunned down in Puerto Princesa City in January last year. Ortega had been critical of the former governor for Reyes' perceived inaction against mining companies breaking environmental laws.
Marlon Recamata, the alleged gunman was caught right after the shooting and confessed that he and his group had been paid P150,000 for the hit. Rodolfo Edrad Jr., Reyes' bodyguard, claimed that he organized Ortega's murder under orders from the former governor.
A Justice Department panel already ordered the charges against the Reyeses. The panel also accepted new evidence including text messages between Edrad and ex-governor Reyes before and after the murder.
A Palawan court issued arrest warrants for the Reyeses and former provincial administrator Romeo Seratubias last Tuesday.
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