July 02, 2011 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
THE WIDOW of a Palawan-based journalist who was assassinated earlier this year has filed an appeal with the Department of Justice (DoJ), asking it to charge several politicians for her husband’s murder. This despite the fact that a DoJ preliminary investigation panel had earlier dropped the charges against them for lack of evidence.
Patricia Gloria A. Inocencio-Ortega, widow of slain radio commentator and veterinarian Gerardo V. Ortega, wants former Palawan governor Mario Joel T. Reyes, former Marinduque governor Jose Antonio N. Carrion, Coron Mayor Mario T. Reyes, Jr. and three others charged in relation to the murder, saying that there is sufficient evidence that they masterminded Mr. Ortega’s assassination on Jan. 24.
Rodolfo O. Edrad, Jr., Armando R. Noel, Dennis C. Aranas and Arwin Arandia were the only ones ordered charged for murder.
In the petition, Ms. Ortega noted that Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) "submitted abundant evident to the Panel expressing their position that the Respondents be indicted for the Murder of Dr. Gerry Ortega... That they believe that Respondents should be held for trial for the Murder of Dr. Gerry Ortega speaks volumes of the existence of probable cause to indict the aforementioned Respondents."
She claims that the evidence submitted during the preliminary investigation showed that former governor Reyes and Mr. Carrion had hired Mr. Edrad and the others charged to gun down Mr. Ortega, while the other respondents who were not charged had made significant contributions to the commission of the crime.
"These are established not only through the statement of co-respondent Edrad, but by independent evidence which have been submitted to the Honorable Panel pursuant to the various investigations conducted both by co-complainants PNP and the NBI consisting of documentary, testimonial and object evidence," the petition read.
Ms. Ortega also said that given the evidence laid out before them, the panel should have made a determination of probable cause and should not have decided on the merits of the evidence.
Mr. Ortega, who in his radio programs opposed the manner in which then Gov. Reyes handled the Malampaya funds and the granting of mining concessions, was shot at a thrift store in Puerto Princesa. -- Nathaniel R. Melican
Rodolfo O. Edrad, Jr., Armando R. Noel, Dennis C. Aranas and Arwin Arandia were the only ones ordered charged for murder.
In the petition, Ms. Ortega noted that Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) "submitted abundant evident to the Panel expressing their position that the Respondents be indicted for the Murder of Dr. Gerry Ortega... That they believe that Respondents should be held for trial for the Murder of Dr. Gerry Ortega speaks volumes of the existence of probable cause to indict the aforementioned Respondents."
She claims that the evidence submitted during the preliminary investigation showed that former governor Reyes and Mr. Carrion had hired Mr. Edrad and the others charged to gun down Mr. Ortega, while the other respondents who were not charged had made significant contributions to the commission of the crime.
"These are established not only through the statement of co-respondent Edrad, but by independent evidence which have been submitted to the Honorable Panel pursuant to the various investigations conducted both by co-complainants PNP and the NBI consisting of documentary, testimonial and object evidence," the petition read.
Ms. Ortega also said that given the evidence laid out before them, the panel should have made a determination of probable cause and should not have decided on the merits of the evidence.
Mr. Ortega, who in his radio programs opposed the manner in which then Gov. Reyes handled the Malampaya funds and the granting of mining concessions, was shot at a thrift store in Puerto Princesa. -- Nathaniel R. Melican
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