Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment
Press Release
24 January 2024
Environmental groups blast ‘questionable’ developments on legal case of slain advocate Gerry Ortega
On the 13th death anniversary of slain environmental advocate and journalist Gerry Ortega, environmental and media groups today gathered at the Supreme Court building in Manila to raise concerns about the ongoing developments with regards to Ortega’s legal case.
“It’s been 13 years since Doc Gerry Ortega was assassinated for his advocacy against mining in Palawan, but justice has yet to prevail,” said Jon Bonifacio, national coordinator of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE). “The long-overdue case of Doc Gerry is testament to the intentional snail’s pace of justice here in our country, which continues under the Marcos Jr. administration.”
Ortega’s life was tragically cut short on January 24, 2011, mere moments after he concluded his morning broadcast. He exposed corruption happening within the Palawan government, particularly the then-governor Joel T. Reyes backed mining projects and the misuse of Malampaya funds. Last year, the Supreme Court ordered the re-arrest of Reyes in line with his reported involvement in the murder of Ortega.
Kalikasan PNE raised concerns about potential delays and the impact on the judicial process over the Reyes clan’s recent motion to transfer the ongoing case from Puerto Princesa to Quezon City. The Supreme Court’s approval of the motion in December 2023, several years after the start of the case, warrants further scrutiny.
“We find the move to reshuffle the case to a new judge questionable,” said Bonifacio. “It just goes to show how the camp of Joel Reyes is able to stall the case, and why we must continue to demand swift justice for our slain environmental defenders.”
There have been 281 documented killings of environmental defenders in the Philippines since 2012, making the impunity for crimes against defenders among the highest in Asia.
“We urge UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan to pay close attention surrounding the Doc Gerry Ortega’s case, so she can see the reality of persistent threats to freedom of expression in the country,” Bonifacio continued.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Defenders Congress (ENVIDEFCON), a group of frontline environmental organizations, also released a statement commemorating the death anniversary of Ortega.
“Dr. Ortega’s murder is emblematic of the challenges faced by both journalists and environmental defenders in the Philippines. The case highlights the dangers both journalists and environmental defender activists confront and the persistent threats to freedom of expression in the country,” ENVIDEFCON said in their statement. #
Contact:
John Carlo Magallon / Communications Officer, Kalikasan PNE
[email protected] / 0955 299 5309
