Thai police arrest Philippine duo for activist's murder

By Roy Ramos

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines

A former Philippines governor and his brother have been arrested in Thailand for the longstanding murder of a prominent Filipino journalist and social activist, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima announced Monday.

Gerry Ortega - a wildlife veterinarian, politician, environmental activist and community organizer - was shot dead in Jan. 2011 while leaving his morning radio show to launch a campaign against mining operations in the island province of Palawan in the Philippines west, according to GMA News.

Joel Reyes, the former governor of Palawan, and Mario Reyes, a former town mayor, had both been implicated in the murder.

Their passports had been revoked by the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs in Sept. 2012. 

De Lima, in a statement made via text message, quoted the Philippines Bureau of Immigration and Interpol-Manila as confirming the arrest and the brothers' impending deportation to the Philippines.

The duo had a 2-million peso ($43,000) bounty on their heads.

Gerry Ortega was best known for his work to promote crocodile farming in the Philippines, and for his advocacy work against mining in Palawan. 

In 2004, the 47-year-old had run for Palawan governor under a good governance platform, but lost to Reyes.

He is reported to have become a strong critic of the governor after gaining access to information about widespread corruption in the Palawan provincial government.

By 2009, he had begun regularly receiving death threats because of the hard-hitting nature of his radio programs, at one point prompting the hiring of a bodyguard.

On Ortega's death, police arrested Marlon Recamata for the killing, who confessed but initially claimed his motivation was robbery.

However, investigators later caught another suspect, apparently part of Joel Rayes' security detail, who linked the Reyes brothers to the crime.

Reyes later denied even having hired him as a security aide, and the brothers fled the Philippines in March 2012 after an arrest warrant was issued for them. 

Police sources told Rappler that the two were captured in Phuket, Thailand by immigration officers for overstaying.

Travel records are reported to show the two went to Thailand in 2012 but did not book a return flight.

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Monday that the arrest provided "an opportunity for pursuing the ends of justice." 

"We acknowledge the efforts of Interpol and Thai authorities in making this possible,” he added.

In a phone interview, Ortega’s daughter, Michaella, told Rappler her family "did not expect this to happen" this week.

"It’s a welcome surprise," she said.

The Ortega family now want to ensure that the Reyes brothers "get home without special treatment", Michaella said.

"It’s going to be a long fight."