Environmentalist and broadcaster Doc Gerry will be missed

Dr. Gerardo “Gerry” Ortega, broadcaster and environmental advocate, was gunned down in Puerto Princesa City on Monday morning.

According to witnesses, Ortega was shopping at an “ukay-ukay” store in Barangay San Pedro when the shooting happened.

The lone gunman, identified as Marvin Alcaraz, was later caught by local police.

Ortega, popularly known as “Doc Gerry,” was a project manager of ABS-CBN Foundation’s Bayanijuan sustainable ecotourism in Palawan. As its head, Ortega was able to launch five ecotourism sites in Puerto Princesa, specifically the Pacific Asia Travel Association Gold Awardee firefly watching in Iwahig River, Dalubkaragatan Bacungan river cruise in Sitio San Carlos, Pambato Reef snorkeling, dolphin and whale watching in Honda Bay, and Ugong Rock spelunking and zipline.

He was also a commentator in Radyo Mo Nationwide’s (RMN)’s Palawan station. He was formerly the project director of RP-Japan Crocodile Farming Institute and broadcaster of RGMA Palawan’s Harapan.

“To us, he was a brother who loved Palawan and staunchly promoted its ecotourism sites. As ABS-CBN Foundation’s project manager for Bayanijuan Sustainable Ecotourism in Puerto Princesa, he was able to help hundreds of families live a better life by developing the ecotourism by the community and for the community,” said in a statement released by ABS-CBN Foundation. “We at ABS-CBN Foundation are saddened by the loss of our beloved Doc Gerry. We strongly condemn this act of violence against him.”

“Gerry’s death comes as a total shock and only serves to increase my determination that his dreams come true,” says ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Gina Lopez. “He loved Palawan, and his greatest passion was to protect its natural resources. He could feel the pain of the communities that were adversely affected by mining. He loved from his heart the communities we were helping. I personally commit to make sure his dreams come true.”

Michaella “Mika” Ortega, eldest daughter of Doc Gerry and working as an IEC 0fficer of ABS-CBN Foundation’s Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig, said in a statement: “When my father was delivering his eulogy for his father, he said something that I couldn’t understand. He said, in front of family and friends, that he forgives the murderer. It’s not conventional but even when in deepest pain, my father would still choose to do the right thing. And as his family, we follow suit. We will seek justice but we will forgive. My father would’ve wanted that.”

Doc Gerry is survived by his wife Patty Ortega, four daughters and a son.