WATCH | Palawan’s Reyes yields as Sandiganbayan cancels bail bond, orders re-arrest in Ortega murder case

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MANILA – Former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes, whom the Court of Appeals recently released over the objections of the family of murdered broadcaster-environmentalist Gerry Ortega, has been ordered re-arrested — but not over the assassination seven years ago.

The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division ordered Reyes’ re-arrest over his earlier conviction by the antigraft court in a case involving an illegal order granting mining permits.

The Third Division also cancelled his bail bond, after granting a motion by the prosecution to order his re-arrest and detention. The prosecution in the graft case said he is a flight risk because he fled to Thailand after the courts ordered his arrest in the Ortega murder case.

In a separate resolution, the Sandiganbayan rejected Reyes’ motion for reconsideration in the graft case.

The Sandiganbayan also affirmed its earlier judgment finding Reyes guilty of graft for the anomalous grant of a permit to a small- scale mining company in 2006.

Reyes had earlier asked the court to junk the prosecution’s motion to order his re-arrest and cancel his bail for being a flight risk.