De Lima to inhibit from DOJ probe on Palawan radioman's slay

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will inhibit from her department’s inquiry into the killing of Palawan broadcaster Gerry Ortega, as the principal suspect, former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes, used to be her client when she was still in private practice. A Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors is investigating the murder charges against Reyes and other suspects. Once it wraps up its probe, its resolution will be submitted to the DOJ secretary for review. De Lima said she will assign a DOJ undersecretary to conduct the review. “I would be inhibiting when the case would reach me at the proper stage. I would be assigning it to an undersecretary because I have already expressed that I cannot get involved in that case because of my previous association with Governor Reyes," De Lima said Tuesday. The DOJ panel under Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edwin Dayog will resume later in the day its preliminary investigation hearing into the murder complaint lodged against Reyes, other former local officials in Palawan, and the men who allegedly carried out Ortega's killing last Jan. 24. Reyes, who has denied involvement in the killing, allegedly ordered Ortega killed for his criticisms against mining operations in Palawan. Reyes said the allegations against him were part of a demolition job by Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn, who has also denied launching a smear campaign against the former governor. Reyes has yet to file his counter-affidavit to the murder complaint filed against him by Ortega’s wife, Patty. Ortega, 47, was gunned down in Puerto Princesa City after his radio program for the day. He was the main news anchor and commentator of Radyo Mo Nationwide's (RMN)'s Palawan station dwAR. - KBK, GMA News