Palace frowns on Reyes brods’ hospital arrest plea

MANILA, Philippines - The lifestyle enjoyed by former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and his brother, former Coron mayor Mario Reyes, as fugitives in Thailand is something authorities should consider in dealing with their plea for hospital detention while on trial for the murder of environmentalist and broadcaster Gerry Ortega in 2011, Malacañang said yesterday.

“Certainly, the prosecutors will have something to say about their proposed motion to file for hospital arrest because we know that before they were (flown back) very recently, they were living like tourists there in Thailand,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over dzRB.

She said she expected Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to take a strong position on the issue. But Valte admitted it’s the Palawan regional trial court that has jurisdiction on the case.

Valte assured the public the case would not be neglected and would be handled properly despite the impending resignation of De Lima, who is joining the senatorial race in 2016.

“We saw how our security forces really worked hard to track down the brothers,” Valte said.

She said the arrest of the Reyes brothers was an offshoot of President Aquino’s directive to intensify the manhunt for high-profile fugitives.

On Friday, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. emphasized “applicable rules on detainees will be applied” to the Reyes brothers.

Police said the brothers lived in a villa and drove a sports utility vehicle in Phuket while being hunted for the murder of Ortega.

De Lima, for her part, said prosecutors would definitely block any effort by the Roxas brothers to seek hospital arrest.

“Matters like that are subject to the court’s sound discretion. But on the part of the prosecution, we’ll definitely oppose that,” De Lima said.

A hospital arrest for the two, if allowed by the courts, might be perceived as special treatment for the two former Palawan officials, she said.

She stressed there is “no basis for such hospital detention, which indubitably smacks of special or VIP treatment. Enough of such ruses or ploys which mocks our justice system.”

The Reyes brothers were arrested in Phuket, Thailand last Sunday night for violating immigration laws.

They were escorted back to Manila early Friday morning and flown to Palawan in the afternoon.

They are currently detained at the Puerto Princesa City Jail in an ordinary cell with wooden bed and common toilet.