De Lima: Reyes brothers not yet off the hook

MANILA, Philippines - Fugitive former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother Coron Mayor Mario Reyes are not yet off the hook in the murder of broadcaster Gerry Ortega last year despite a ruling by the Court of Appeals (CA) stopping their indictment for murder.

This was emphasized yesterday by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, whose move to have the charges reinstated is supported by Malacañang.

“The available remedy for us at this point is to file a motion for reconsideration through the Office of the Solicitor General. Hence, the Reyeses are not yet off the hook,” De Lima said in an interview.

De Lima’s earlier decision to create a second panel to reinvestigate the murder case was used as basis by the CA in granting relief to the Reyeses.

She said the CA ruling is not yet final and therefore, could not take effect yet.

The justice chief said they would await first the finality of the decision before moving for the withdrawal of the information filed against the brothers before the Puerto Princesa City regional trial court and for lifting the arrest warrants against them.

Still, De Lima stood by her decision to order a reinvestigation based on new evidence presented by the complainant last year instead of resolving the petition for review already pending in her office at the time.

She believes the CA ruling virtually clipped her plenary power.

“It’s sad that they (CA) would suddenly clip the powers of the SOJ (Secretary of Justice) when the previous SOJs, once in a while and on case-to-case basis, exercised such plenary powers,” she lamented.

The Ortega family shares the same view that it is too early for the fugitive brothers to celebrate. Their lawyer Alex Avisado also intends to appeal the CA ruling and even bring the technical issue to the Supreme Court. – With Delon Porcalla