Former Palawan governor accused of killing broadcaster released from jail

January 6, 2018

Former Palawan Governor Mario Joel Reyes, who is accused of killing environmental advocate and broadcaster Gerry Ortega in 2011, was released from jail after a court dismissed the murder charge against him.

Reyes was freed from the Puerto Princesa City Jail in Palawan at around 5:35 p.m. Friday, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Senior Inspector Xavier Solda, the agency's spokesman, said in a text message.

A memorandum from city jail warden Chief Inspector Lino Soriano said they freed Reyes after they received an order of release dated Jan. 4 from the Court of Appeals.

Records show Reyes has been in jail since Sept. 25, 2015. He and his brother, Coron ex-Mayor Mario Reyes Jr. were placed under arrest upon their arrival from Thailand.  Mario was granted bail in 2016.

In a Twitter post Saturday, Ortega's daughter Mika said the family "is still recovering from shock of yesterday's ( Jan. 5) CA decision ordering the release of former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes."

"We will need time with our lawyers to study it and plan our next move," said Mika. DMS