Reyes brothers tagged in Ortega killing fall in Thailand

MANILA, Philippines — Police arrested on Sunday former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother, former Coron town Mayor Mario Reyes, in Bangkok, Thailand suspected to be behind the the killing of journalist Gerry Ortega in 2011.

The Bureau of Immigration and Interpol's Manila branch confirmed the arrest of the brothers, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Monday.

De Lima said her agency is now working on the deportation of the Reyes brothers.

Ortega's wife, Patty, said her family is hoping to see the suspects deported to the Philippines and in handcuffs.

"Walang special treatment," Patty said in an interview with radio dzBB on Monday following reports of the arrest.

In January 2011, Ortega was shot in the back of the head by a gunman after broadcasting a show from Palawan radio station RMN dwAR-FM.

The Reyes brothers were accused by the victim's camp in a motion for reconsideration before the Department of Justice as "masterminds and principals" behind the killing.

Ortega was among the most outspoken leaders of a campaign against large scale mining in Palawan.

In August 2014, President Benigno Aquino III announced an important development in the pursuit of the Reyes brothers amid the death of witness Dennis Aranas and accused Valentin "Percival" Lecias.

READ: Gov't pursuing other high-profile fugitives - Palace

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines had said the case of Ortega reflects the sorry state of journalist killings in the Philippines since 1986.

"The characteristically slow pace of the legal and judicial processes involved the Ortega murder case can and must be addressed pro-actively by the Department of Justice and the national political leadership," the journalists' group said. — reports from Edu Punay and Camille Diola