MANILA: The former governor of a Philippine province and his brother who are wanted for the 2011 murder of a radio anchor and prominent environmentalist have been arrested in Thailand, officials said Monday.

Former Gov. Joel Reyes of western Palawan island province and his brother Mario Reyes, an ex-municipal mayor, were arrested Sunday by Thai police on the southern island of Phuket, said Philippine Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. She said immigration authorities were processing the brothers’ deportation papers.

The Philippine government has offered a 2 million peso ($43,000) reward each for information leading to the arrest of the brothers, who fled the Philippines after being implicated in the murder of Gerardo Ortega.

Ortega’s family and colleagues say Ortega was silenced for opposing mining on Palawan, which is famous for its pristine beaches and virgin forests.

He was fatally shot in 2011 by a self-confessed hit man who implicated the Reyes brothers and a former provincial administrator.

“The arrest of the long-wanted Reyes brothers provides an opportunity for pursuing the ends of justice,” presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma said. “We acknowledge the efforts of Interpol and Thai authorities in making this possible.”

Mika Ortega, the slain environmentalist’s daughter, also welcomed the arrests. But she told DZMM radio that there is a long fight ahead to make sure that the master minds of the crime are convicted.