Reyeses seek new judge for media-slay case

Reyeses seek new judge for media-slay case

• Written by  Benjamin B. Pulta
• Tuesday, 31 July 2012 

Former Palawan Gov. Mario Joel Reyes and his brother, incumbent Coron Mayor Mario Reyes Jr., have asked Judge Angelo Arizala, the presiding judge of the Puerto Princesa Regional Trial Court who handles the murder case filed against them, to recuse from the case for prejudice, partiality and bias in favor of the prosecution.

The Reyes brothers are facing murder charges for the killing of environmentalist-broadcaster Gerry Ortega in January last year. Warrants have been issued for their arrest and of three others, but arresting officers have not located the Reyeses.

The brothers said that after they were charged in court last March 16, they filed separate motions to defer proceedings as well as oppositions to the issuance of a hold-departure order (HDO) sought by the private prosecutor.

However, even before the court actually received copies of their respective replies with respect to their motions as they were filed by registered mail allowed by the rules, the Judge proceeded to deny their motions, decided that there was probable cause against the Reyes brothers and issued the warrants for their arrest..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/index.php/nation/item/2283-reyeses-seek-new-judge-for-media-slay-case