Govt declares murder suspect and Palawan ex-Gov. Joel Reyes a fugitive

(Updated 5:23 p.m.) The Philippine government on Friday declared former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes a fugitive in connection to the 2011 killing of environmentalist and broadcaster Gerry Ortega.   "He is a fugitive now... I have already organized a team to track him down," Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo told GMA News Online. Reyes should come out and surrender because hiding would not resolve the murder case against him, the Interior secretary said. Robredo issued the appeal once again to Reyes on Friday.

“Hiding will not help his case,” Robredo said in a text message to GMA News Online.

 

Reyes, his brother Marjo Reyes who is the mayor of Coron town in northern Palawan, and two others are wanted for the Jan. 24, 2011 killing of Ortega in Puerto Princesa City.

 

A prominent civic leader and veterinarian who once headed Palawan's famous crocodile farm, Ortega had been a vocal critic of Reyes' administration.

 

The Makati City police earlier tried but failed to serve an arrest order against the former Palawan governor at his residence in Dasmariñas Village in Makati.

 

In a recorded message sent to media agencies, including GMA News, Reyes gave no clue as to when—if ever—he would be turning himself in.

 

"Nandito lang po ako sa inyong piling, nagtatago sa inyong puso," the former governor said. 

 

He will face the charges against him "at the right time," he added.

 

Ortega’s family challenged Reyes to surrender if he is indeed innocent of the crime.

 

"It is curious that he continues to claim innocence while evading arrest. If he is as innocent as he says he is, he should surrender then because he would have nothing to hide from," according to a family statement.

 

"Of course, it has long since been apparent, what with the overwhelming evidence, that indeed he has something he wants to hide," the Ortega family added. —VS, GMA News