A former Philippine official charged with the murder of a prominent environmentalist has been freed after a court voided the case against him, his lawyer said on Saturday.
Joel Reyes, the ex-governor of the western island of Palawan, was arrested in 2015 for the killing of Gerry Ortega, a prominent campaigner and radio host who frequently accused Reyes of massive corruption.
Demetrio Custodio said his client was released late on Friday after the court decision.
Ortega was shot dead while shopping in the capital of Palawan, one of the Philippines’ biggest islands and a popular tourist destination, famed for its lush forests and pristine landscapes.
But it has also suffered from illegal logging, mining and fishing. Ortega had accused Reyes of corruption linked to alleged environmental crimes on the island.
While there have been many cases of environmental activists and journalists being murdered, the brazen killing of Ortega shocked the Philippines.