A former Philippine provincial governor who is accused of planning the 2011 murder of an environmental activist and host of a radio show has turned himself in, according to a government official who spoke to the media on Thursday ( Sep 12 ).
Former government Joel Reyes, who is accused of ordering the hit, has remained in the region for the 13 years since Gerry Ortega was shot dead on the exotic beach of Palawan. He has remained largely free thanks to legal turbulence and a three-year leave to Thailand.
Reyes, 72, is charged with ordering Ortega’s shooting, which is alleged to have been sparked by the brutality of the killing of thousands of Filipino editors and environmental activists.
After a judge ordered his arrest last month, Reyes once went into hiding but resurfaced, unknown to government, after checking into a Manila doctor, the head of the government’s media surveillance work pressure told AFP.
Torres ‘ attorneys later told the National Bureau of Investigation that he “really wants to surrender,” according to activity power general Paul Gutierrez.
” Based on his medical certificate, it appears that he is suffering from some… health problems”, he said without giving details.
Ortega was just finished his morning radio show, where he frequently criticized officials, including Reyes, when he was shot in the back of the scalp at a used clothing store in Puerto Princesa, the provincial capital.
A guard who hired the murderer later admitted his boss, despite the fact that police had arrested Ortega’s killer and located the weapon in a close friend of Reyes.