PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — The lone state witness in the Gerry Ortega murder case took the witness stand on Monday and identified former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes as the mastermind behind the killing, along with the governor’s brother and former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes.
Rodolfo “Bumar” Edrad Jr., Reyes’ former bodyguard, reiterated his claim during direct examination at the sala of Palawan Regional Trial Court Judge Angelo Arizala, that he was ordered by the former governor to devise and execute the plan to kill Ortega, a popular radio broadcaster who was critical of Reyes.
Ortega was shot and killed by a hired gunman, Marlon Recamata, inside a used clothing store near his veterinary clinic here on Jan. 24, 2011.
Recamata was arrested immediately after the shooting and was first to identify Edrad as his recruiter.
A former soldier, Edrad went into hiding after he was implicated by Recamata and several other witnesses. He later surrendered and offered to turn state witness.