PALAWAN - Former Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, an accused in the killing of environmentalist and broadcaster Gerry Ortega, was granted bail Friday.

Judge Angelo Arizala of Puerto Princesa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 52 allowed Reyes to post bail of P500,000 in exchange for his temporary liberty.

Mario Reyes and his brother, former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes, are facing murder charges for allegedly masterminding the killing of Ortega in 2011.

Joel and Mario are running as mayor and vice mayor, respectively, of Coron, Palawan.

The petition for bail was submitted to allow them to campaign for the upcoming May 9 elections.

In a text message, the Ortega family expressed their disappointment over the court ruling. Mika Ortega, the slain environmentalist's daughter, said they will withhold further comment until the family receives and reviews the ruling.

The Reyes brothers were arrested in Thailand in September 2015 after more than three years on the run.

They went missing in early 2012 after an arrest warrant was issued for them and had initially fled to Vietnam and then Thailand.

READ: Reyes brothers, suspects in Ortega slay, arrested in Thailand

Both Joel and Mario Reyes refused to enter a plea during their arraignment for murder charges.

Ortega is a prominent environment activist in Palawan who had frequently accuses the Reyes brothers of massive graft.