New York, September 11, 2024 — The Clarity Times: – A coalition of press freedom groups has called for a swift and impartial trial after former Philippine governor Joel T. Reyes surrendered to authorities, ending his years as a fugitive. Reyes is connected to the 2011 murder of broadcast journalist Gerry Ortega, a case that has become a symbol of the dangers faced by journalists in the Philippines.
“This is long overdue,” stated the coalition, made up of Free Press Unlimited (FPU), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). “Reyes has evaded justice for over 13 years, and now there must be a swift and impartial trial without any further delays.”
The murder of Ortega, an environmental journalist based in Palawan, shocked the country in 2011. Ortega had exposed corruption linked to Reyes’ administration, leading to his assassination. Despite a 2023 arrest warrant, Reyes remained at large until his recent surrender, following a successful legal appeal to move his trial to Quezon City, near Manila.
The Ortega family had fought to keep the trial in Palawan but was overruled by the court. No date has yet been set for the trial’s start.
The coalition hopes this development brings justice closer for Ortega’s family and serves as a reminder that the international community is closely monitoring the case. The trial’s outcome is critical in a country where 96 journalists have been killed since 1992 in connection with their work.
