Witness: 'Gov' ordered Ortega killing in Palawan

The new witness of the family of slain Palawan broadcaster Dr. Gerry Ortega alleged that a "governor" was behind the killing in January. After a Department of Justice (DOJ) hearing on Monday, Arwin Arandia alleged that a suspect in the killing, Rodolfo "Bumar" Edrad Jr., told him that a "governor" was behind Ortega's killing. Arandia had surrendered to activist priest Fr. Robert Reyes on Monday. Arandia was later turned over to the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation. Ortega's wife, Patria, was present at the DOJ's preliminary hearing on the murder complaint she lodged against former Palawan governor Joel Reyes, former Marinduque Gov. Jose Carreon, and several others. When asked whether she is keen on having Arandia as a new witness, she replied in the affirmative. Edrad was a former close-in security aide of Carreon and reportedly worked for ex-governor Reyes, whom he had earlier tagged as the one who gave the order to kill Ortega. Arandia did not specifically say whether Reyes was the mastermind in the crime, but quoted Edrad as saying that a "governor" was behind Ortega's death. "May nabanggit si Bumar (Edrad) na gov daw po, gov. Hindi ko lang alam kung sino'ng governor yung binabanggit niya (Bumar just mentioned a governor. I just don't know the governor he was referring to)," Arandia said. According to Arandia, Edrad relayed to him the orders to participate in Ortega's killing. Arandia alleged that after Ortega was killed, he, an unnamed companion, and Edrad left Lucena City in Quezon province and went to Metro Manila. The three of them later allegedly went to a residence in Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City. The house's facade had a sign that said "Joel T. Reyes," Arandia said. Arandia added that inside a vehicle, Edrad gave him P20,000 for him and his companions to hide. "Ang nakita ko ay 'Joel T. Reyes' ang nakapangalan sa bungad ng pintuan ng gate, sa loob, sa kotse. Yun lang po at nagpatuloy na ang pagbyahe namin. May (bitbit) si Bumar na pera na nakalagay sa plastic bag. Binigyan kami ng P20,000. Sabi, 'Toy, o panggastos niyo.' Balak kaming pagtaguin ni Bumar. Kasi delikado daw pag di kami nagtago. Malaking tao yung makakalaban," Arandia said. (I saw the name 'Joel T. Reyes' on the gate, inside the house, on the car. That's all. So we continued traveling. Bumar was carrying money inside the plastic bag. He gave us P20,000. He said, 'Brother, this is for your expenses.' Bumar wanted us to hide. It will be difficult if we don't hide because we're against a powerful person.) Reyes' camp: No subpoena yet Reyes, who has denied ordering Ortega's killing and having any motive to have him killed, was not present at the DOJ hearing. His lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, said the former Palawan governor will not yet show up and submit his counter-affidavit because he has not yet received a copy of the complaint and the subpoena issued by the DOJ panel. "Until we get a copy of the complaint, that's when we can come up with our affidavit. We are ready, able and willing to face the accusations, but we haven't received the subpoena yet. So we have no personality yet in these proceedings," Topacio said. Reyes' no-show, however, was perceived as a delaying tactic by the camp of Ortega's wife. "Because Gov. Reyes has remarked that they have not received the subpoena yet, we ourselves will bring the subpoena to Gov. Reyes' house so he can attend the hearing tomorrow," said lawyer Harry Roque, adding that he will be accompanied by NBI operatives. At the DOJ hearing, the following suspects attested to the authenticity of their affidavits linking Reyes to Ortega's killing: Edrad, Valentin Lesias, and Armando Noel. The three-member DOJ panel, headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edwin Dayog, will hold another hearing on Tuesday to receive the affidavits of Arandia and Dennis Aranas. – VVP, GMA News