LOOKING back to how the Vizconde case had been exposed to public pressure to an extent ruinous to the families of both the victims and accused, let’s hope judicial  history doesn’t repeat itself in the murder case of environmentalist-commentator Gerardo Ortega in Puerto Princesa last January.

The Ortega family’s unspeakable loss has been blamed on Joel Reyes, former Palawan governor, in the affidavit of one of the suspects who named him as the brains behind the veterinarian’s murder.

Reyes, being a top former official, at once fell under sharp public scrutiny and, possibly, rash judgment. Lack of evidence has not stopped Ortega’s wife and daughter from loudly charging him as the mastermind or naming statements corroborating the claim of the alleged killer.

Thus, last week Reyes has had to submit a counter-affidavit to the Department of Justice to stress under oath he has absolutely no reason, no motive to order Ortega killed. He said Ortega’s attacks on him as public official were impersonal and, though continually negative since 2001, did not dissuade Palaweños from voting for him thrice as governor.

Reyes added that he held no grudge against Ortega and, in some occasions, had in fact extended financial assistance to the radio commentator’s environmental crusade. He recalled employing Ortega’s brothers Arnel and Jaime in the governor’s office.

The ex-governor’s affidavit also punched holes in the sworn statement of Rodolfo Edrad Jr. a.k.a. Junjun Bumar, who claimed that Reyes talked to him about killing Ortega in December 2010 at the Marriot Hotel.

On the other hand, according to the affidavits of Armando Noel and Arwin Arandia, both hired by Edrad purportedly to kill Ortega, it was claimed that Edrad talked to them about the job on Nov. 10, 2010 and on the first week of December – days before Reyes allegedly ordered the hit.

In some broadsheet reports, it was noted that Edrad has been known to claim he was a former Marine who was close to a Navy lieutenant, now Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. However, military records showed no Rodolfo Edrad Jr., in any roster.

In the affidavit of Reyes’s fellow suspect, former Jose Antonio Carrion, former Marinduque governor, he stated he had dismissed Edrad as one of his security personnel for fooling around with the governor’s househelps, one of whom was a minor.

Streetlights kibitzer Jose contributed reports on warrants of arrest for a certain Rodolfo Edrad Jr. arising from murder, estafa, and rape cases in Quezon province. Alright, Jose, the accusing finger pointed at Reyes apparently can possibly come clean.

Well, let’s see if in the light of the judicial experience in the Vizconde case, the DoJ investigating panel for the Ortega killing would effectively isolate itself from external pressure of the pointless kind.

And, yes, allow itself to be largely guided by what Gill Grissom of the TV whodunit CSI said: “Focus on what cannot lie – the evidence.”