Court okays bail for detained Ortega suspect

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY–The regional trial court investigating the murder of Palawan journalist Gerry Ortega has allowed one of the principal suspects to post bail.

In a ruling released Monday, RTC Branch 52 Judge Angelo Arizala granted the bail petition for Romeo Seratubias, owner of the licensed pistol that was used in the shooting of Ortega.

Seratubias is one of the two major suspects in the case who are in detention at the Palawan provincial jail. The suspected masterminds, former Palawan governor Joel T. Reyes and his brother Mario, have been in hiding since issuance of their arrest warrants.

Arizala allowed the accused to post a bail of P300,000.

The judge, in the same decision, ruled against the bail petition of the other detained suspect, Arturo Regalado, citing strong evidence in his alleged role as coordinator of the hired killers who stalked and ambushed Ortega inside a used-clothing store.

Seratubias, in his defense, has claimed innocence citing that he had sold the gun to Regalado’s companion prior to its use in the murder. While he was implicated by the main state witness, former Reyes bodyguard Rodolfo Edrad, Jr., in his testimony, Judge Arizala said there has been no corroborating evidence of Seratubias’ direct participation in the murder.

Reacting to the decision, Patria Gloria Ortega, wife of the victim said the family “still believes in the judicial system to eventually convict all those responsible.”

The widow appealed to the public to provide the police information for the capture of the mastermind suspects who are still at large.