The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines is appalled at reports that former Palawan governor Joel Reyes managed to sneak out of the country on a fake passport.

According to a report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Monday, which quoted unnamed sources, Reyes left on March 18 on Cebu Pacific Flight 5J751 for Vietnam using a passport in the name of Joseph Lim Pe that was supposedly issued on February 3, 2012.

If true, this means Reyes left the country more than a week before the Palawan regional trial court issued a warrant for his arrest on March 27 for the alleged murder of broadcaster Gerry Ortega.

This can only mean Reyes received assistance from what could only be friends in high places in government who not only informed him of developments in the case, thus allowing him to plan his escape, but also helped him obtain a false passport and slip through immigration.

(Former Gov. Joel Reyes’ alleged fake passport. Photo from 
inquirer.net) 

We demand that President Benigno Aquino III immediately order a transparent investigation, keep the public, especially the Ortega family, promptly apprised of its progress, and spare no one who may have had a hand in this travesty.

To do anything less will be interpreted as complicity and tacit approval.

References:

Nestor Burgos Jr.,
NUJP chair

Rowena Paraan,
NUJP secretary-general