23-Jan-12, 9:33 PM | National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
BACKGROUND
Dr. Gerardo Ortega, known to Palawenos as Doc Gerry, was a broadcaster, anti-corruption crusader and an environmentalist. He received recognition for his community-based projects on the environment, and relentlessly exposed corruption in the province.
Until his death, Ortega had criticized officials, one of them former Governor Joel T. Reyes, for the missing provincial funds and miscounting of Malampaya Gas Project Funds.
It was said that Ortega was silenced because his attacks on Reyes and Governor Baham Mitra could lead to the filing of plunder cases against them. In extrajudicial confessions made by some of the suspects, Reyes allegedly referred to Ortega as "sakit ng ulo (a headache)."
Around 10:14 a.m. of January 24, 2011, Ortega was shot in the back of the head at pointblank range and died on the spot.
The gunman, Marlon Recamata, was captured as he fled the crime scene, paving the way for the speedy investigation of the crime.
Dr. Patria Ortega, Gerry's wife, filed a case before the Department of Justice against those implicated in the murder (see The Suspects).
But on June 14, 2011, a Justice Department panel of prosecutors absolved six suspects, including alleged mastermind Joel Reyes, of the crime.
On September 7, on a petition from Ortega’s family, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered the reinvestigation of the case. Joel Reyes filed a motion to stop the reinvestigation into his involvement in Ortega’s killing, but this was denied by the Court of Appeals.
January 24, 2012 marks the first year since Gerry Ortega’s killing.
THE SUSPECTS
The gunman, Marlon Recamata was apprehended after a brief chase and named his accomplices: Dennis Aranas, the lookout; Armando Noel, the recruiter; and Rodolfo "Bumar" Edrad Jr., the team leader.
Edrad implicated the following in the killing:
Gov. Joel Reyes, alleged mastermind;
Mayor Mario “Marjo” Reyes, Jr., the former governor’s brother and mayor of Coron town, who allegedly paid Edrad;
Nonoy Regalado, Joel Reyes' personal aide who reportedly often accompanied the former governor to the Royal Cockpit in Aborlan, Palawan. Regalado was the one who Joel Reyes allegedly ordered to buy the murder weapon;
Quintin Pasia, an employee of the provincial government. Pasia allegedly claimed the money from the pawnshop where Edrad had deposited it to buy the gun. He then supposedly handed the money over to Regalado.
Percival Lecias, a photographer for the office of Vice Governor Ferms Reyes. Regalado allegedly handed the money to Lecias to buy the gun directly from
Lawyer Romeo Seratubias, the provincial administrator under Joel Reyes.
May 2010 -- Joel Reyes loses his bid for reelection. Ortega was among those who campaigned against Reyes, raising corruption and environmental issues against him.
July 4 -- Rodolfo “Bumar” Edrad, former close-in bodyguard of ex-Marinduque governor Jose Antonio Carreon and Reyes, went to a mall in Makati City with the two. There, Reyes supposedly asked Carreon if he could have two media practitioners killed on December 2010.
December -- Edrad and Reyes went to the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City. According to Edrad, Reyes gave him "P100,000 for mobilization of recruits and P50,000 for purchase of a gun.” Reyes also allegedly gave him three pictures of Ortega.
Dec. 16 -- Edrad got acquainted with a certain Armando Noel Jr., who tapped Arandia; they both went to Edrad's house to discuss the plot to kill Ortega. Edrad gave the two P20,000 and P25,000, respectively, for expenses, and three photos of Doc Gerry.
January 8, 2011 -- Edrad allegedly received final instructions from Reyes, who went abroad with his daughter.
Jan. 20 -- Noel and Aranas started their surveillance of Ortega but failed to see him at his pet shop.
Jan. 21-- Noel and Aranas resumed surveillance of Ortega. They saw him at a car wash near his pet shop.
Jan. 23 -- Aranas received a text message from Noel. The text message read: "Pare, nagtext na ang asset natin na hindi pa pala nakakalabas ng Palawan ang target at nasa farm lang, bukas (Jan 24, 2011), pupunta ang target natin sa pet shop pag nakita niyo, tirahin niyo na. ABS-CBN ang sasakyan na itim na pickup na may kasamang bodyguard (Friend, our asset texted that our target is still in Palawan and is only at his farm. Tomorrow, our target will go to his pet shop. Shoot him when you see him. He will be aboard a black pickup with ABS-CBN markings and is accompanied by a bodyguard)."
Aranas claims he disregarded the text message and tried getting Ortega's number so he could warn him of the murder plot.
Jan. 24, 8:30 a.m. -- On Edrad's instructions, Aranas took P30,000 from a pawnshop and gave half of this to the gunman, Marlon Recamata. Aranas claimed he continued trying to contact Ortega but failed; earlier Edrad said he received P500,000 from Mario Reyes at the latter’s Alabang residence.
10:12-10:14 a.m. -- Ortega was shot dead in an ukay-ukay (used clothing) store on the national highway in San Pedro, Puerto Princesa. He died from a single gunshot near his nape.
Closed circuit camera footage obtained by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism caught Recamata fleeing the crime scene.
10:40 a.m. -- After a brief chase, police from San Vicente town arrested Recamata. He was immediately turned over to the Puerto Princesa City police. Recamata made an extrajudicial confession the same day.
Jan. 25 -- The Office of City Prosecutor of Puerto Princesa filed an Information for murder against Recamata and four "John Does."
Jan. 26 -- Aranas went to Coron town and contacted a certain Inspector Orig to relay his intention to surrender.
Jan. 28 – Aranas was arrested. On Feb. 22, he made an extrajudicial confession before Rosauro Bautista, an NBI agent in Puerto Princesa City.
The PNP Regional Crime Laboratory examined the murder weapon and confirmed it to be licensed to lawyer Romeo Seratubias, former provincial administrator under Reyes.
Feb. 5 -- Edrad surrendered in Lucena City to Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagerdorn. Edrad implicated Joel and Mario Reyes, Carreon and Regalado. He made an extrajudicial confession the next day.
Feb. 7 -- Regalado submits a statement on the Ortega killing and files another on February 9.
Feb. 10 -- Noel surrendered and made an extrajudicial confession three days later; Patria Ortega, wife of Gerry, filed an instant complaint before the NBI.
Feb. 14 -- Patria Ortega filed a supplemental affidavit complaint before the DOJ.
Feb. 28 -- Arandia submitted his extrajudicial confession in the first week of December saying he was approached by Edrad, the son of a close friend, to discuss a murder.
Regalado filed a counter-affidavit maintaining he had no participation in the killing of Gerry Ortega.
Mar. 1-- Justice Sec. Leila de Lima inhibits herself from the Ortega case because Reyes is a former client.
May 2 -- Lecias files an affidavit also denying any participation in the conspiracy to kill Gerry Ortega.
June 14- The DOJ panel -- Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edwin Dayog and Prosecutors Bryan Jacinto Cacha and John Benedict Medina -- rules the evidence submitted during the preliminary investigation failed to establish probable cause against Joel and Mario Reyes, Carreon, Seratubias, Regalado and Lecias.
July 1-- Patty Ortega filed a partial motion for reconsideration asking the DOJ to reverse the findings of the original prosecutors’ panel and asking to make Rodolfo Edrad a state witness.
Sept. 7 -- De Lima denies the motion filed by the Ortega camp to reverse its earlier ruling to absolve Reyes and the five others. However, she issues Department Order No. 710 ordering a new panel formed to reinvestigate the Ortega case; The new panel is composed of Assistant State Prosecutors Stewart Allan Mariano, Vimar Barcellano and Gerard Gaerlan.
Sept. 14 -- Lawyer Al Parreno presented his study on extrajudicial killings, focusing on data on the murders of journalists and lawyers. He said the Gerry Ortega murder is one of two cases with the strongest chance of convicting a mastermind, excluding the Ampatuan massacre.
Oct. 3 -- Joel Reyes petitions the Court of Appeals to stop the reinvestigation of his alleged involvement in the Ortega murder.
Oct. 21-- The new DOJ panel begins its work. Mariano is named panel head. Recordings of Ortega’s broadcasts in which he criticized Reyes were submitted to establish the motive for the killing.
Oct. 27 -- The Ortega camp presented Junnel Flores, technician and records custodian of Radio Mindanao Network in Palawan to authenticate the audio recordings and transcripts of Ortega's program.
Nov. 12 -- The Court of Appeals denied Joel Reyes’ petition for a temporary restraining order against the reinvestigation of Ortega’s killing.
Jan. 24, 2011-- First anniversary of the Ortega murder.
