Palace commends Ombudsman for seeking Joel Reyes’ rearrest

Malacañang on Wednesday lauded the Office of the Ombudsman for asking the Sandiganbayan to cancel the bail of and order the rearrest former Palawan governor Joel Reyes over the anomalous renewal of small-scale mining permits.

“That’s how it should be! I commend OMB for the order,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told reporters in a text message.

State prosecutors in a three-page urgent omnibus motion pointed out that Reyes, along with his brother former Coron mayor Mario Reyes, was caught in Thailand in 2015 while they were facing murder charges over the killing of broadcast journalist Gerry Ortega.

Ortega, a prominent civic leader and a radio host, was shot and killed in Puerto Princesa City by a lone gunman in 2011. The Reyes brothers were accused as masterminds of the killing.

"Considering accused Reyes' previous record and to prevent its recurrence, the cancellation of his bail and his immediate commitment to prison are warranted," the prosecutors said.

On Monday, Roque said the government would exhaust all legal remedies to reverse the decision of the Court of Appeals. He used to be the legal counsel of Ortega’s family before he became a party-list congressman in 2016.

In his personal capacity, Roque said the appellate court’s decision was “alarming” and a “sad development” for the freedom of the press in the country.

The CA last week cleared Reyes from the 2011 murder of Ortega. It said that the Regional Trial Court of Puerto Princesa committed grave abuse of discretion in finding probable cause to order the arrest of the former governor. —ALG, GMA News