The highest court in the Philippines has issued an order for the re-arrest of Joel Reyes, a former politician accused of orchestrating the killing of prominent environmentalist Gerry Ortega over a decade ago. The court documents, published on Sunday, highlighted the ongoing legal battle surrounding the case.

Joel Reyes, the former governor of Palawan, a western island known for its natural beauty, has been implicated in the 2011 murder of Gerry Ortega. Ortega, who hosted a radio show, used his platform to expose alleged corruption by Reyes. He was fatally shot while shopping in Palawan’s capital, shedding light on the environmental crimes plaguing the region, including illegal logging, mining, and fishing.

Reyes and his brother Mario, also linked to Ortega’s murder, went missing in 2012 after warrants were issued for their arrest. They were eventually apprehended in Thailand in 2015. However, Reyes was released from jail in 2018 when a court dismissed the criminal charges against him. Subsequently, government lawyers appealed the decision, leading to the reinstatement of charges nearly two years later.

The Supreme Court had previously issued a stay on the order for Reyes’ re-arrest and the resumption of his trial while considering his plea for reconsideration. However, in the ruling released on Sunday, the court rejected the appeal and instructed a Palawan court to arrest Reyes and continue the trial.

Patty Ortega, the widow of Gerry Ortega, expressed her family’s satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating that it restored their faith in the pursuit of justice. Reyes’ lawyer could not be reached for comment regarding the recent development.

While cases of environmental activists and journalists being murdered have unfortunately occurred in the Philippines, the killing of Gerry Ortega was particularly shocking. In last year’s elections, Joel Reyes ran for his former position as governor but was unsuccessful. His brother Mario, a former mayor, also faced defeat in his re-election bid.