Following a 2019 reversal of the CA’s decision in 2018 absolving the former governor of Palawan of all charges against him, thus freeing him from jail time, the Supreme Court (SC) has ordered Joel T. Reyes rearrested in connection with the murder of radio broadcaster and environmental activist Gerry Ortega in 2011.

The retrial can now occur as there were insufficient grounds that could merit Reyes’ dismissal of the charges against him, the SC said in its eight-page resolution over the weekend. “We do not find the CA committing reversible error when it affirmed the trial court’s orders,” the same resolution quotes.