Suspect in Ortega slay surrenders

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines – A key suspect in the 2011 murder of Palawan broadcaster Gerry Ortega surrendered to authorities Wednesday night, April 12.

Arturo “Nonoy” Regalado, an aide of former Gov Joel T. Reyes who had gone into hiding after an arrest warrant was issued against him by the court, surrendered to the police, according to Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and city police chief Supt Abad Osit.

“He gave himself up to the combined team of City PNP operatives and members of the Special Operations Group somewhere in Malate last night (Wednesday) around 11.30 pm,” Hagedorn told reporters Thursday, April 12.

Regalado, a former employee at the provincial capitol, has been tagged by investigators as the main contact for the group of hired killers from Pagbilao, Quezon who killed Ortega last Jan 24, 2011 inside a used clothing store in the city.

The police had said that Regalado served as the main contact of the group of confessed gunman Marlon Recamata who arrived here less than a week before Ortega was shot.

Hagedorn added that another Reyes aide, Val Lecias, “has extended surrender feelers” to authorities. “He (Lecias) might also come out very soon,” the mayor said.

Reyes and his brother Mario, both charged in the Ortega murder, are still at large. – Rappler.com