SC issues TRO vs. Palawan court over arrest of ex-gov. Joel Reyes

The Supreme Court has issued a temporary restraining order against a Palawan regional trial court from implementing a warrant of arrest against former Palawan governor Joel Reyes over the Dr. Gerry Ortega murder case.

SC spokesperson Brian Hosaka said the Second Division issued the order on March 23.

“Yes, that is confirmed. It was issued by the SC 2nd Division last March 23, 2022,” he said in a message to GMA News Online on Thursday.

Reyes was the principal accused in the murder of Ortega in 2011.

He was released from detention in 2018 after the Court of Appeals voided a warrant of arrest issued by the Puerto Princesa City Regional Trial Court Branch 52 due to lack of sufficient evidence for finding of probable cause.

Ortega was slain on January 24, 2011 while shopping in a used clothes store in Puerto Princesa.

He was allegedly silenced for his radio commentaries about Reyes' supposed misuse of the share of the provincial government in the proceeds from the operation of the Malampaya natural gas plant off Palawan.—AOL, GMA News