Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Former Palawan governor Joel Reyes and former Coron town mayor Mario Reyes had been turned over to the Puerto Princesa City Jail on Friday afternoon (September 25).
The transfer of custody took place at 3:55 p.m. following a commitment order issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 52 Judge Jose Usman.
Before this, the Reyes brothers — who were named primary suspects in the 2011 murder of environmentalist and broadcaster Gerry Ortega — arrived at the Puerto Princesa Airport at 2:22 p.m. via Philippine Airlines Flight 2785. They were escorted by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG).
Related: Ortega murder: Authorities fly suspects Reyes brothers to Palawan
Local supporters, who were clad in yellow shirts and waving yellow ribbons, patiently waited for their former governor and mayor but the Reyes brothers were fetched straight from the plane and whisked off by a convoy to the Palawan Police Office. They arrived there past 2 p.m. for a medical checkup.
Joel and Mario were said to have high blood pressure. Mario, the younger of the two brothers, was also reportedly nursing a fever although he was seen to be in an exuberant mood for the medical exam.
CNN Philippines stringer Keith Fabro contributed to this report.
