Philippines: The alleged mastermind behind journalist Gerry Ortega's murder must be tried immediately
Joel T. Reyes, the former Philippine governor suspected of ordering the assassination of journalist Gerry Ortega in 2011, surrendered to the police after 13 years on the run. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and a coalition of NGOs call for a swift trial.
The international coalition A Safer World for the Truth, which brings together three global press freedom organisations, including RSF, welcomes Joel T. Reyes’ surrender on 11 September. Reyes, the former governor of Palawan province, is the suspected mastermind behind the 2011 murder of Gerry Ortega, a radio presenter and environmental journalist who was investigating a corruption case involving Reyes when he was assassinated.
“The fact that the alleged mastermind of Gerry Ortega’s murder is finally in police custody is, of course, a positive step. Yet it’s deeply regrettable that he escaped prosecution for 13 years. Justice must be served immediately, and we hope the upcoming trial will help bring an end to the impunity for those who commit crimes against journalists in the Philippines.
A Safer World for the Truth, established in 2020 by RSF, Free Press Unlimited (FPU), and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), is dedicated to coordinating international investigations into the unresolved murders of journalists. In March 2024, representatives of the coalition met with Philippine authorities to divulge new information on where Reyes was hiding, and to demand th enforcement of Reyes’ arrest warran.
With 204 murders recorded since the restoration of democracy in 1986, the Philippines is one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists and press freedom defenders. The archipelago ranks 134th out of 180 in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index.
