Sandiganbayan 3rd Division orders the arrest of ex-Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes as his bail is revoked in the mining permits case pic.twitter.com/vJcQ4VH0Db

— Adrian Ayalin (@adrianayalin) January 29, 2018

MANILA - The Sandiganbayan on Monday ordered the arrest of former Palawan governor Joel Reyes for graft over a mining permit case.

The order came less than a month after he was released from detention over the murder of radio host and environmentalist Gerry Ortega.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division affirmed its August 2017 ruling that sentenced Reyes to imprisonment of 6 to 8 years for approving the permit of a small-scale mining company.

The court also revoked his bail, citing his previous escape from the country after he was charged in the 2011 murder of Ortega.

Reyes fled to Thailand in 2012 defying a hold departure order. He was arrested in 2015, the Sandiganbayan noted.

Earlier this January, the Court of Appeals nullified Reyes' arrest for murder due to the "lack of evidence" linking him to Ortega's death.

• Ortega family blasts release of ex-Palawan governor

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