By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — An environmental advocate and broadcast journalist was shot dead in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Monday morning. Dr. Gerry Ortega, a veterinarian, was killed by a gunman in San Pedro Village after finishing his daily radio program on DWAR Palawan.
According to reports that quoted eye-witnesses, Ortega was about to buy clothes in an ukay-ukay stall when he was shot in the head. Police have already apprehended a suspect, identified as Marvin Alcaraz, who was said to be from Taguig City, Metro Manila. The suspect claimed that he only intended to rob Ortega. Police found a .45 caliber gun in his possession. No motive has been established as of this writing.
Ortega is a known pro-environment advocate and has worked with various environmental groups and associations on pro-environment and community-based projects. He gained local popularity as a wildlife veterinarian and became known as “Doc Gerry.”
For 12 years since 1988, he was the director of the Crocodile Farming Institute, since renamed the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. He also served as a member of the Palawan provincial board from 2001 to 2004. He ran but lost in the 2004 gubernatorial race in the province.
According to environmental groups, in recent years Ortega was involved in vigilant advocacy campaigns, participating in anti-mining protests and pressing for the Palawan community’s share in the Malampaya natural gas project. He was also active in the Bayanijuan eco-tourism project of the ABS-CBN Foundation, serving as its project manager in Puerto Princesa and winning last year’s Best Community-based Ecotourism Project at the 2010 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Awards.
Ortega left behind a wife and five children.
NUJP and IFJ condemn killing
Journalist groups have already condemned the killing.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines described Ortega as a “staunch critic” of a powerful local politician. The group said Ortega was vocal against mining operations in Palawan. It did not say, however, whether this was a direct motive for his murder.
“If the killing is proven to be work-related, he would be the second to be murdered under the new administration,” the NUJP said. Ortega is the second journalist to be slain since President Benigno Aquino III took office in June 2010. Aquino has promised to make the Philippines safer for journalists.
The first victim of extrajudicial killings of journalists was radio reporter Miguel Belen of Iriga, Camarines Sur.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), meanwhile, said Ortega’s murder is a reminder that the Philippines is still among the world’s most dangerous countries for media workers.
IFJ Asia-Pacific director Jacqueline Park said Ortega’s death, “like those of all his colleagues before him, must not go unpunished by authorities in the Philippines.” The IFJ represents 600,000 journalists in 125 countries.
The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, in a statement, quoted Joselito Alisuag, the Ortega family’s lawyer, as saying that the broadcaster was a “staunch critic” of illegal mining activities in Palawan. Ortega also reported on alleged corruption in the provincial government in his program.
Alisuag told the CMFR that the killing could only be related to Ortega’s journalistic work. “He did not have any personal enemy, nor does he have any vice,” Alisuag said.
Alisuag said Ortega and one of his children, who is also a broadcaster, had also been receiving threats prior to the incident, according to the CMFR.
The NUJP said that 142 journalists had been murdered since the fall of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and the restoration of democracy in 1986. This includes 30 journalists who were among 57 people murdered in the Maguindanao Massacre in November 2009. 
Environmental Activists Pursue Doc Ortega’s Advocacy Against Destructive Mining (PR)
Filipinos join protests against NATO in Chicago, US (Photo by Brett Jelinek / Bulatlat.com)
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January 24th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
The murder of Dr. Jerry Ortega is the 2nd killing of a radio commentator in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Fernando Batul was killed May, 2006. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): “Two local journalists who worked with Batul and who were investigating his murder told CPJ that they had been threatened. In June, they said, they fled Palawan due to concerns about their safety.” To this day, this murder is “unsolved.” Mr. Batul was also critical of local politicians.
Culture of Impunity. Impunity? More like: Culture of Death. All in the name of “Mammon.” Money, the god, that turns the world upside down, that which makes the weak strong, the ugly beautiful, the dumb bright. Palawan is a resource rich “paradise” where you better shut up or you’ll be killed, if you dare talk about local politicians and their plunder. Like the rest of the Philippines. Dr. Ortega was just buying used clothing in an “ukay ukay,” like lots of us do. Killed by an opportunistic robber with a 45 caliber pistol, in Puerto Princesa? Come on! This is too sad to sneer about. 5 kids left behind… when will this darkness end?
January 25th, 2011 at 8:33 am
palawan is no longer a safe place i think..we were known as the the last frontier because we really care for the environment..however, the murder of doc gerry proves that there are some native palawenos who only care for their pockets and not for the environment..condemn the mining in palawan..!mabuhay doc gerry ortega..!
January 25th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
the murderer wasn't from Palawan.. he was from Taguig City actually. It was stated above.
January 25th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
they may not be the native palawenos.
January 29th, 2011 at 1:25 am
[...] (Read story…) Filed Under News, Philippines [...]
January 29th, 2011 at 3:14 am
[...] protests and pressing for the Palawan community’s share in the Malampaya natural gas project. click here for more. GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); [...]
April 13th, 2011 at 4:09 am
[...] On a far more serious note, murder can now be added to the long list of fears and concerns for Palawan and its inhabitants. On January 24, Dr. Gerry Ortega, a respected environmental advocate, broadcast journalist and anti-mining activist in Palawan was shot dead in Puerto Princesa City. [...]