Mastermind in Gerry Ortega Killing Surrenders to NBI
JOEL REYES – The former Palawan governor accused of masterminding the 2011 murder of environmentalist and broadcaster Gerry Ortega, has voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Ortega, a well-known critic of Reyes’ leadership and mining operations in Palawan, was shot in the head by a gunman on January 24, 2011, in Puerto Princesa City. Ortega, also a veterinarian and program manager for the Philippine Ecotourism Palawan project under the ABS-CBN Foundation, was an active advocate for environmental protection.
Reyes’ surrender came after the Supreme Court, in July 2023, ordered his re-arrest and transferred his case to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 76. Reyes coordinated his surrender through his legal team, expressing his willingness to face the charges against him. He is currently confined in a hospital in Quezon City due to a medical condition, but he has already gone through booking procedures and remains under NBI custody while awaiting further court instructions.
Reyes, along with his brother, former Coron town mayor Mario Reyes, were initially cleared of involvement in Ortega’s murder. However, this decision was reversed in 2012, and charges were filed against them. The brothers fled to Thailand to avoid prosecution but were arrested there in 2015 and deported back to the Philippines. Joel Reyes was later released in 2018 after the court dropped the charges against him, but the case was revived nearly two years later, leading to his re-arrest.
In addition to facing legal charges, Reyes ran for governor of Palawan in the 2022 elections but lost. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) later disqualified him, citing his status as an escaped prisoner and fugitive, following his flight from the country after being indicted for Ortega’s murder. According to ABS-CBN News, his brother Mario and eight others are also facing charges related to Ortega’s killing.
The case, one of the most high-profile political murders in the Philippines, continues to draw attention from environmental and journalist groups, shedding light on the dangers faced by activists and environmental defenders in the country.