MANILA - The family of radio host and environmentalist Dr. Gerry Ortega slammed on Monday the release of the alleged mastermind in his killing, former Palawan governor Joel Reyes.

The Court of Appeals last week ordered the Palawan Regional Trial Court to dismiss the case against Reyes and release him due to the alleged lack of evidence linking him to death of Ortega, who had accused him of massive corruption.

"Mayroon po tayong mga ebidensya at iyun nga po ang ikinagagalit at ikinalulungkot namin kung bakit naman po ganito ang order," Ortega's daughter Micaella told DZMM.

(We have evidence and this is what enrages and saddens our family.)

Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv

She noted that Marlon Recamata, who gunned down her father in 2011, confessed that he was hired by a former bodyguard of Reyes, Rodolfo Edrad Jr.

Edrad, in turn, pointed to Reyes as the brains behind the murder, she said.

Micaella added that the prosecution found receipts linking Reyes to the payment that Recamata received.

Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv

Dr. Patria Gloria Inocencio-Ortega, the slain environmentalist's wife, said the appellate court meddled with the jurisdiction of the Palawan RTC to weigh the merits of the case.

"Sa tingin ko, nakialam ang Court of Appeals sa merits... Hindi naman Court of Appeals ang dapat naghihimay ng mga ebidensya, ng mga witnesses," she said in a separate DZMM interview.

(I think the Court of Appeals interfered with the merits. The Court of Appeals should not be the one to look into the evidence, the witnesses.)

She said her family is consulting lawyers on their next step.

Ortega was shot dead while shopping in the capital of Palawan, a popular tourist destination that has also suffered from illegal logging, mining and fishing.

He had accused Reyes of corruption linked to alleged environmental crimes on the island.

Reyes and his brother Mario, who was also implicated, went missing in 2012 after an arrest warrant was issued for them. They were caught in Thailand in 2015.

The former governor's release came just days before the 7th death anniversary of Ortega.