Ortega family says foreign assistance ‘crucial’ in capture of fugitive Reyes brothers

MANILA, Philippines—The family of slain journalist and activist Gerry Ortega on Friday said they believed that the Department of Foreign Affair’s (DFA) efforts to alert foreign immigration authorities and police officials would be a big help in the capture of the fugitive Reyes brothers.

In an emailed letter to Michaella Ortega, DFA Assistant Secretary Jaime Ledda reiterated that the passports of former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and his brother Mario Reyes had been cancelled and that Philippine embassies and consulates abroad had been asked to inform concerned agencies “for their possible arrest and immediate deportation to the Philippines to face their case.”

“The department has notified the Philippine Embassies and Consulates General abroad to confiscate the passports of the above fugitives of justice in the event that these travel documents are presented for any consular service and forward them to the department immediately,” the letter read.

“The Embassies and Consulates General were also requested to inform concerned police and immigration authorities of the host countries and other areas under the respective consular jurisdictions of the cancellation of their passports for their possible arrest and immediate deportation to the Philippines to face their case,” it added.

It also said that the passport of a certain Lim Pe, who had earlier been reported to be used by the former Palawan governor to escape the country, had also been cancelled.

Ortega, in an emailed message to media, said that the family believed that these initiatives would set a “difference between the capture of the fugitive brothers or their escape.”

“We are hopeful that through the DFA’s constant communication with the Philippine Embassies and Consulates General abroad that we can see the day that the Reyes brothers, who have been consistently disrespecting our laws and our courts, are arrested and made to face the allegations and evidences against them,” Ortega said.

“We only pray that this example be emulated by all government agencies concerned,” she added.