Gerry Ortega, journalist, anti-mining advocate, and a veterinarian, was shot dead on 24 January 2011 while buying from a store in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. His widow, Patria ‘Patty’ Ortega filed murder charges against Palawan officials in a supplemental complaint-affidavit submitted to the Department of Justice last February 14.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com
The widow of slain Palawan environmentalist and journalist Gerry Ortega recently called on Malacañang to order the Commission on Audit (COA) to finish its audit report on the financial records of the Malampaya natural gas project in Palawan. Mrs. Patria Ortega said that before his husband was killed, he had been asserting that there was corruption surrounding the plant’s P3.1-billion ($70 million) income.
Ortega, an anti-mining advocate and a veterinarian, was shot dead on 24 January 2011 while buying from a store in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. His widow, Patria ‘Patty’ Ortega filed murder charges against Palawan officials in a supplemental complaint-affidavit submitted to the Department of Justice last February 14.
In a press conference earlier this week, Mrs. Ortega said her husband accused ex-Palawan Gov. Joel T. Reyes, current Gov. Abraham Mitra and former Vice Gov. Dave Ponce de Leon of being involved in acts of corruption in connection with Palawan’s share of the Malampaya’s profits.
“Some P3.1 billion ($70 million) out of the total P90-billion ($2 billion) Malampaya income went to the provincial government. The local COA auditor had so far been only able to account for P520 million ($11.8 million), she said.
The lawyer of the Ortega family Harry Roque said that some of the recommendations the COA has previously made on the issue of Malampaya were the refund of P49 million ( $1.1 million) representing excessive cost of projects; disallowance of a P25 million ( $569 thousand) consultancy project, refund of P6 million ($136 thousand) representing deficiencies; and the filing of appropriate charges against officials involved.
Prior to his death, the slain environmentalist was active in campaigning that the people of Palawan should get their 40 percent equitable share in the proceeds and royalties generated by the Malampaya Natural Gas and Oil Field Project. Along with various environmental and church-based groups, Ortega questioned the legality of an interim agreement between the former Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration and the province of Palawan wherein the province’s share in the Malampaya project proceeds was reduced to 20 percent.
Former Palawan Gov. Reyes stands accused of corruption over Malampaya project, involvement in Ortega slay. (Photos courtesy of Justice for Gerry Ortega / bulatlat.com)
In her complaint affidavit submitted to the DOJ, Mrs. Ortega stated that her husband “riled, in particular,” at Gov. Reyes and the provincial government of Palawan and then president Macapagal Arroyo for the unconstitutional, illegal and anomalous arrangement with respect to the Malampaya funds.
Based on reports, the Malampaya reservoir has reserves amounting to around of 2.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves, as well as 85 million barrels of condensate. It is expected to produce as much as 41-million barrels of oil corresponding to revenues of between eight to ten billion pesos ($182 million to $227 million).
An Objective Investigation
During the same press conference. Mrs. Ortega called on President Benigno Aquino III to take action and support calls for an objective investigation on her husband’s murder.
“It’s not that we’re asking to be repaid or anything, Mr. President, but Gerry and I and our daughter Mika voted for you. We believe you when you said ‘daang matuwid’ and “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap. You have the power to ensure an objective investigation of Gerry’s murder. You have the power to demand for an accounting of government funds, including the share from Malampaya.”
The widow said that she was in possession of documents to bolster the allegations of corruption against the Palawan officials. She said she was prepared to present them to the Department of Justice.
Mrs. Ortega said that daily, the motive behind the killing of her husband was becoming very clear.
“His enemies wanted to silence Gerry for his calls that Joel Reyes, Baham Mitra, Dave Ponce de Leon and others account for the use of government funds, including the Malampaya shares, she said. She added that her husband read a COA report which revealed the misuse of the Malampaya funds.
In the supplemental complaint-affidavit formally charging former governor Reyes as respondent in the murder case, Mrs. Ortega said her husband has long been exposing the ex-official’s alleged inequitable mining policies while he headed Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD).She said that as chairman of the PCSD chair, Reyes was not only involved in the disbursement of funds coming from the Malampaya oil exploration project but also in approving mining concessions.
Also named respondents in the murder case were Reyes’ brother Coron Mayor Mario Reyes and former Marinduque Gov. Jose Carreon.
They were named by a suspect Rodolfo Edrad Jr., alias “Jun-Jun Bumar,” a former close-in security guard of Reyes who allegedly contacted the gunmen who killed Ortega. Among those who were also charged are Reyes’ former provincial administrator Romeo Seratubias, Marlon Ricamata, Dennis Aranas, Valentin Lesias, Arturo Regalado, Armando Noel, John and Jane Does.
Based on police findings, the gun used to shoot and kill Ortega was registered under Seratubias.
In a message relayed to the media, Mitra said he does not want to comment on “reckless statements egged on/fed by rumormongers.”
“ My father left me a good name and I intend to do the same to my son. Let it not be tainted by people who are fed unfounded and baseless accusations by enterprising individuals using them for their so-called cause,” he said.
De Leon also denied involvement in the killing and said that he was not guilty of corruption.
“I deny absolutely that I have anything to do with the killing of Gerry Ortega. Immediately after Gerry Ortega was killed, I spoke on the radio and said that I condemn his death. I even called on authorities to go after those who could be behind this,” he said.
Several suspects, including the gunman, are already under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.
Roque has also announced that plunder charges will be eventually filed against against Reyes, Mitra, Palawan Representative Alvarez and Macapagal-Arroyo in connection with alleged technical malversation of the Malampaya project proceeds under the interim sharing agreement.
In the interim, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered the DOJ panel of prosecutors assigned to handle the preliminary investigation of the case to open the proceeding to the public and the media.
A Daughter’s Plea
In anguish over what appears to be the slow developments in the murder case of her father, Mikaela Ortega issued a plea to authorities to hasten the investigation and put an end to extrajudicial killings of activists and environmentalists.
Michaela posted a note on Facebook appealing for justice for her father even as so many others are demanding the same for so many other victims of extrajudicial killings in the country.
“Our cries, our screams, our pain, become all the more incomprehensible because nobody can hear us anymore. There are far too many crying, too many asking for help, too many seeking for justice. There will always be another story of even greater suffering, involving even more people,” she said.
She said, however,that she and the rest of her family would continue to call for justice for their own father.
“The indifferent statistics tell us that dad is the 142nd murdered journalists since 1986 and the 37th environmental activist since 2001. This scenario is bound to repeat itself because we make it too easy for murderers. After every murdered Filipino is a message, loud and clear, that people can get away with it at so small a price. And so after every unsolved crime, after every forgotten wrongdoing, we are opening the doors for future killings, we are allowing Filipino families to lose their loved ones to murder,” she said.
Michaela said that she was issuing the appeal in behalf of her mother and her siblings Erika, Joaquin, Sophia and Keara.
“ You can imagine the pain it took me to have to make my young siblings understand that dad is never coming home. You can imagine the hurt we felt when Keara was wishing for dad to be alive again. The recurring feeling is a mix of helplessness and sheer vulnerability. We’re not rich nor are we powerful. What have we got against those who have made a living out of stealing and lying and killing? What have we got against them?”
Support of Campus Journalists
Earlier this month, 100 campus journalists held a candle-lighting ceremony in Irawan, Puerto Princesa City to mark the 40th day after Ortega was slain. Led by the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) and students of the Palawan State University (PSU), they demanded an end to the extrajudicial killing of environmentalists.
Similar symbolic actions were held in Quezon City led by the Kalikasan-PNE.
CEGP Southern Tagalog chairperson Rogene Gonzales in a press statement said they are deeply troubled with how journalists continue to be targeted. “If this country upholds genuinely the people’s freedom of expression, we demand an end to the prevailing impunity and stop the killings of state critics,” he said. He called on all campus journalists to investigate and write about mining and other environmental issues in their communities.
In the meantime, PSU student and “The Pioneer’ editor-in-chief Allan Jay Javier said they would also continue to press for justice for Ortega’s murder. “We will do this as we also fight for quality and accessible education, genuine campus press freedom and students’ democratic rights, “ he said.
Javier said campus journalists in the province are making a stand against mining and help the ongoing 10-million signature campaign against mining in Palawan.
me too! i know that woman is a very dedicated woman to her own land and most of all she cant do that kind of thing specially stealing from others pockets!
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Corruption is the reason filipinos are cleaning the toilets of every Asian nation. That is why the woman become prostitutes. Corruption by Joel Reyes is legendary, yet nothing happens when he’s obviously the boss of this murder. Please investigage the corruption of GEMMA B. MEDINA of BIR as well. She stole over 500,000k from me when I purchased land in Palawan. She is also famous in Puerto Princesa, but continues to steal from her own people. WAKE UP!!!! Take back your country from the criminals posing as politicians and govt. employees!!!!!
Several Palawenians were saddened by the loss of such great man, that is, Dr. Gerry Ortega. It is such a shame to hear that SOME politicians and SOME government employees steal and cheat from their own land.
Yes, hello there, “artguy”. When you mentioned corruption, murder, boss, we were at the same page. I, for one, also wish for this murder to be solved, to be given justice. My family personally knows the Ortega family and we are trying to help them cope up, helping them achieve justice for the lost family member. But when you mentioned Ms. Gemma B. Medina, about her “stealing money from you”, I have to say to myself, “Wow, this guy does not know what he’s doing”.
First of all, Ms. Gemma B. Medina knows Dr. Gerry Ortega. He was even a godfather at Ms. Gemma’s wedding! I know that if Doc Gerry is still here, he’ll strongly oppose to what you are saying.
Secondly, this is an article dedicated to the late Doctor Gerry Ortega. If you want to show your utmost respect to the subject as well as to the authors, please stop injecting topics or people that are NOT connected to this article. If you are really angry at Ms. Gemma, please tell her PERSONALLY. Or if you don’t have the balls/guts to approach her, then go find pity and attention somewhere else.
Lastly, I have known Ms. Gemma B. Medina more than anyone else. She could be anything, but she would NEVER steal from someone, especially from her own land. Maybe you two just had a misunderstanding, or there were some details that were left out from your last meeting. There are two sides of the story, REMEMBER THAT. LEARN TO ASK FIRST, BEFORE CONCLUDING ANYTHING.
For all I know, Ms. Gemma B. Medina, is famous for her great dedication to her land. She is an outstanding member of this NGO group that conducts various dental and medical missions in the highlands, activities that increase public health awareness, and she helps the less fortunate in paying their government debts. THAT IS WHY SHE IS FAMOUS. She has the initiative to help people, especially those in great need. How about you, what have you contributed to your own land? HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR OWN LAND? DID YOU HAVE THE INITIATIVE TO CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR OWN LAND? Or the greater question is, what gives you the right, who are you to name call such great woman when you know to yourself that you are not an example of a good citizen?
I don’t know if what you’re saying about Ms. Gemma B. Medina is true, or you’re just a plain old basher who likes to badmouth people, who, most of the people know, are humble and honest.
AND PLEASE DO NOT POST ONLINE ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL ISSUES, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE PROOF. I know you are just exercising your freedom of speech, but it doesn’t mean you have the freedom to look like a complete ass in the eyes of thousands of people.
Mitra hand not said a word about the killing of Ortega. From the beginning I was wondering why on such a high profile murder he has not commented. Now I can understand why people revolt against their goverment. The inaction of the authority is apalling, imagine all leads points Joel Reyes and he has not been charge. What a week country the Philippine. President Aquino should send investigators to Coron and interview the locals to fine out level of corruption associated with Joel Reyes. I hope the supporters of Ortega’s family will not relant and for their voice to be more forceful. I can’t believe President Aquino still has his finger up his ass. Sorry.