Palace hails move of Ombudsman to ask Sandiganbayan to order rearrest of ex-Palawan governor

January 10, 2018

Malacanang lauded on Wednesday the move of the Ombudsman to ask Sandiganbayan to cancel the bail of former Palawan governor Mario Joel Reyes and order his rearrest for graft.

"That's how it should be! I commend OMB (Ombudsman) for the order," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a text message.

The anti-graft prosecutors filed an urgent motion to the Sandiganbayan to cancel Reyes' bail even if there is a pending appeal on the conviction meted out by the Sandiganbayan Third Division on his graft case.

Prosecutors said Reyes might leave the country again after he was released last week from Puerto Princesa City jail following the decision of the Special Division of Court of Appeals finding no probable cause to indict him from allegedly masterminding the murder of environmentalist Dr. Gerardo Ortega.

Reyes has posted bail last year after the Sandiganbayan meted out a six to eight years of imprisonment over an anomalous mining permit in his province.  But he was not released that time despite posting bail due to his non-bailable murder charge.

Roque earlier criticized the appellate court for its decision finding Reyes innocent from his alleged involvement in the killing of Ortega in 2011.

Reyes and his co-accused brother Mario, former mayor of Coron, Palawan, left the country in March 2012 months after they were indicted for the murder of Ortega. They were arrested in Phuket, Thailand in September 2015. Celerina Monte/DMS