The Philippine Department of Justice has reviewed evidence in the 2011 murder of journalist Gerardo Ortega and recommended that murder charges be filed against ex-governor Joel Reyes in the local courts, news reports said. The department reversed its decision after originally deciding not to pursue charges against Joel Reyes.
Although the accused triggerman, Marlon Recamata, named Reyes in the murder, a June 2011 Department of Justice investigation found his statement unsubstantiated, news reports said. Ortega's supporters submitted new evidence a few weeks later and petitioned for the department to re-investigate, news reports said. After reviewing the evidence, the department issued a recommendation on Tuesday for murder charges to be filed against Reyes in the Regional Trial Court of Puerto Princesa City, according to news reports.
The new evidence included phone records linking Reyes to a his former security guard, Rodolfo Edrad Jr., who is facing charges as an accomplice of the gunman, according to news reports. Reyes had denied any association with Edrad, but later admitted to paying him a sum of money after records showed he sent Edrad 16 text messages on the day of the crime, news reports said. Reyes still denies ordering Ortega's murder, according to news reports. Ortega was shot and killed in Puerto Princesa City, in Palawan province, on January 24, 2011. The journalist, an anti-mining activist, had criticised Reyes for alleged corruption related to the bidding process for mining contracts, according to news reports.