(Eagle News) — Solicitor General Jose Calida on Tuesday said he has plans of asking the Supreme Court to reverse a Court of Appeals decision clearing former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes of any involvement in the killing of environmentalist Gerry Ortega.
“We are ready and raring to take this case all the way to the Supreme Court. There will be no miscarriage of justice under my watch,” Calida said.
Calida issued the statement a day after the Palace said it would ask for reconsideration of the appellate court’s former Eleventh Division decision nullifying the warrant of arrest against Reyes.
In making the ruling, the division said there was no probable cause for the former governor’s indictment, saying the testimony of a supposed witness, Rodolfo Edrad, was “insufficient,” “uncorroborated,” and “riddled with inconsistencies.”
But Calida said these issues should be discussed during the trial proper.
“An exhaustive debate on the credibility of a witness is not within the province of the determination of probable cause,” he said.
