MANILA, Philippines – Palawan Mayor Edward Hagedorn requested Friday the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to place under its protective custody the witnesses in the killing of radio anchor Dr. Gerry Ortega. Hagedorn accompanied Ortega’s wife, Patricia Gloria Ortega, to the NBI main office in Manila regarding their request to ensure the safety of the witnesses.
The mayor expressed optimism that the bureau under the leadership of lawyer Magtanggol Gatdula would grant the request to place the witnesses- Noynoy Regalado and Dennis Aranas- in the witness protection program.
Aranas was earlier tagged as as the group’s look-out.
“Dalawa na ang nasa custody ngayon (NBI Palawan). Si Noynoy Regalado who is working at the provincial capitol, and Dennis Aranas, the lookout. Yung lang ang request naming protection. At gusto ng magsabi ng totoo,” Hagedorn told reporters.
Harry Roque Jr. said the family of Dr. Ortega has sought help of the NBI to speed up the process of the investigation to identify the mastermind. He said the case is now assigned to the Death Investigation Division (DID).
“Umaasa kami sa lalong madaling panahon na magkakaroon na ng identification kung sino talaga ang mga mastermind sa pagpatay na ito?,” he asked.
Roque said the NBI Palawan has now in its custody one suspect who was said to have aided the gunman by providing him the money and gun.
“May suspect na hawak na ang NBI Palawan pero hanggang hindi pa natatapos ang imbestigasyon we would rather conceal ang mga identity ng mga tao,” he said.
He said they feared for the witnesses’ safety. “Ang fear naming ngayon dahil may mga makapangyarihan na tao sa Palawan, na duda naming siya ang nagpautos nitong patayan na ito, ang aming pangunahin na kinatatakutan ang posibilidad ng white wash at kaya naman nagpupunta kami sa mga ahensiya national dahil tingin namin mas patas ang magiging proceso kung mga national offices ang mag iimbestiga nito,” he said.
Dr. Ortega’s wife Patricia noted the new developments of the case. “Mukang maganda naman ang mga developments, kasi napansin namin na madaming kakulangan sa initial investigation. Kailanagan air tight lahat ng ga evidences, witnesses, suspects, lahat iyan importante para hindi tayo ma-techical. Kailanagan siguraduhin natin na malakas ang kaso natin,” she said.
