Reyes asks Palawan court to lift arrest warrant, HDO

2 BI officers sacked

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of fugitive former Palawan governor Joel Reyes has sought the lifting of the arrest warrant and hold departure order (HDO) issued against him by the Puerto Princesa City court in Palawan for the 2011 killing of broadcaster Gerry Ortega. 

In a motion filed last week, Reyes’ legal counsel Demetrio Custodio Jr. asked the Puerto Princesa Regional Trial Court Branch 52 to implement the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) effectively dismissing the murder charge against Reyes due to a technical flaw in the earlier investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Custodio said the CA has denied the DOJ’s appeal, making its ruling last March 19 final and executory.

“To go on with the arrest and prosecution of accused (Reyes) would be enforcing the very act that the Court of Appeals has already declared to be illegal and violative of accused’s constitutional right to due process of law,” stated the 14-page pleading of Reyes’ camp.

Meanwhile, two Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel were ordered dismissed from the service for allegedly helping Reyes and his brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, leave the country unchecked on March 18 last year.

Administrative aide Rogelo Udarbe Jr. and immigration officer Wesley Gutierrez were found liable for the departure of the Reyes brothers reportedly through fraudulent passports bearing other names.

Udarbe was found guilty of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service, and Gutierrez, gross neglect of duty and also conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.

In a statement yesterday, the DOJ said Udarbe “ensured that the departure of the Reyes brothers from the country would not be detected by providing the vehicle which transported (them) to NAIA Terminal 3” and that he “received money in consideration for his participation in the escape.” Gutierrez, for his part, cleared the departure of Reyes who used a tampered passport under the name of Joseph Lim Pe. – With Rainier Allan Ronda