Gerry Ortega's family wants 'suicide' of jailed suspect probed

The family of slain Palawan-based broadcaster and environmentalist Dr. Gerardo "Gerry" Ortega on Thursday called for an autopsy and investigation into the reported suicide of one of the jailed suspects in the case. "Kinailangang imbestigahan kasi paanong nahayaan 'yun," Ortega's daughter, Michaella, told reporters in an interview after the blue ribbon committee hearing on the alleged misuse of Malampaya funds, which panel chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III said may have been linked to the noted broadcaster's killing. Dennis Aranas, the alleged lookout when Ortega was shot dead in January 2011, was found dead Tuesday in what jail personnel said was a case of suicide inside his cell at the Lucena Provincial Jail in Quezon. Michaella, however, said that even Aranas' family doesn't believe the suicide angle. "Wala naman ito sa kanyang pag-uugali, wala man lang warning signs," she said. "Kaya kami ay nagdududa at talagang pinananawagan namin ang isang otopsiya at inaantabayanan po namin kung ano ang magiging konklusyon nitong NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) autopsy," she added. She also said even the top brass of the Lucena police were wondering why they were not informed of the incident. "Samantalang dapat kapag may ganung insidente iimbestigahan pa ito na parang krimen at pagpunta po nila doon sa selda wala na yung bangkay at nilinis pa 'yung selda," Michaella said. "So marami pong mga bagay na talagang kaduda-duda." Widow appeals to NBI Ortega's widow, Patria, appealed to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to look into Aranas' death.  "Lahat siguro ng nasasangkot dito dapat imbestigahan. Ang dapat [mag-imbestiga] itong mga kinauukulan, ang gobyerno, ang NBI," she said in the same interview. Guingona himself had questioned why Aranas was in jail when he was supposed to be a witness in the case. The Department of Justice (DOJ) explained that Aranas has an outstanding warrant of arrest and that his testimony was deemed dispensable by the panel. Patria, however, said they will never know now if Aranas' testimony could have helped the case. "Patay na siya. Hindi na natin makukuha 'yung magko-corroborate sa testimony ng ibang mga suspek," she said. She also said she fears for the life of Junjun Bumar, the principal witness who had pointed to former Palawan governor Joel Reyes as the mastermind in the killing of Ortega. Bumar had admitted that he organized the assassination squad that killed Ortega, and implicated Reyes, who has denied involvement in the case. "Talagang nakakatakot dahil baka abutan na nila yung si Bumar dahil napaka-key witness ni Bumar," Gloria said. Two years Ortega was known as a hard-hitting radio commentator on illegal mining activities in the island province. Aside from being a broadcaster, Ortega was also a prominent civic leader and veterinarian who once headed Palawan's famous crocodile farm in Puerto Princesa City. Michaella, meanwhile, appealed for the immediate resolution of the case. "Dalawang taon na, dalawa na ang patay sa suspek at mga probable witnesses natin. Hanggang kailan po nila patatagalin [ang kaso]? Hanggang sa manghina na nang manghina at makalimutan ng taongbayan na may nangyaring ganitong klaseng krimen?" she said. "Gusto po talaga kasi natin at the end of the day, matunton [kung] sino ba ang may kagagawan nito. Kilala naman natin sila at alam naman natin kung sino nagpapatay dito sa aking ama na si Gerry Ortega. Kinakailangan lang natin hulihin, litisin at sampahan ng kaso," she added. — Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News