Reyes family asks for peace

MANILA, Philippines –  The widow of the late former Armed Forces chief Angelo Reyes would like nothing else but peace for her family amid declaration by some lawmakers that she and her sons might be summoned to congressional inquiries into alleged corruption in the military.

“We need peace. Our family needs peace,” Teresita Pernia-Reyes told The STAR in between sobs Wednesday night at the wake for her husband at the Arlington Ascension Chapels on Araneta Ave.

She also raised her pleas to Vice President Jejomar Binay and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. who arrived at the wake one after the other Wednesday.

Reyes, a decorated soldier, shot himself Tuesday before the graves of his parents in Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City. He had begged off from attending a Senate hearing on the same day on corruption issue. In his earlier Senate appearance last Jan. 27 – his first and last – Reyes was confronted with allegations that he received P5 million monthly as AFP chief and P50 million upon his retirement in 2001. The humiliation he endured during his Senate appearance may have driven him to take his own life, friends and supporters believe.

“All I ask is for prayers for my husband,” Mrs. Reyes told Binay and Belmonte.

The Speaker assured Mrs. Reyes she could count on him for help in whatever way he can.

Breaking her silence a day after her husband’s suicide, Mrs. Reyes said she finds solace in the massive show of sympathy from people they do not even know.

“I am overwhelmed by the show of support for my husband of people who are coming here,” Mrs. Reyes said.

Wake open to everyone

She said her late husband’s critics and accusers are now welcome to pay their last respects to him.

In the Jan. 27 hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, former military budget officer retired lieutenant colonel George Rabusa appeared as surprise witness of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and related how millions of pesos in AFP funds ended up in the pockets of generals including Reyes. The hearing was originally on the controversial plea bargaining agreement between former comptroller retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia and the Ombudsman’s special prosecutors.

Mrs. Reyes recounted to The STAR the conversation she had with her husband after the last Senate hearing where she was even implicated in alleged anomalies in the AFP.

“I told him ‘Angie, let me come out and tell them these things are not true.’ But he sternly told me ‘No, let me handle it myself,’” Mrs. Reyes tearfully said.

Their third son Marc announced yesterday the family’s decision to open the wake to the public even if they’re “still in a state of shock.”

“As long as they are sincere and they would really like to extend their sympathy to the family and pay their last respects, we welcome them,” he said.

Healing process

“The family is looking for peace. That is also what my father would have wanted to happen in our country, that there would be peace and unity,” Marc told reporters after reading a prepared statement.

“Let this be the start of the healing process,” he added.

“With the love and support of the people who have shown their concern and support to the family, which was very overwhelming, heartwarming, we have decided that it’s about time we start the healing process,” he pointed out.

“At this point, we would like to have peace. There is no use anymore for animosity,” he said.

Marc said they were only asking for privacy when they announced that his father’s accusers were not welcome in the wake.

“Hindi ko hami pinalaking bastos (We were not raised to be disrespectful)” he said. 

“I really, really hope that they don’t use this for political mileage, grandstanding or whatever because I think that is something that we should leave behind,” Marc said.

Sen. Richard Gordon, for his part, said Mrs. Reyes’ travels were never an issue when the Commission on Appointments was grilling Reyes.

Gordon noted that Reyes’ wife was involved in a business that required her to travel a lot. “It did not become an issue because she has a business of her own. It was not (much of an issue),” he said.

Gordon was a member of the CA when Reyes’ appointment as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government was confirmed.

Reyes reportedly brought Teresita with him in his 13 trips that he made as AFP chief from 1999 to 2004.

According to Gordon, it is not unusual for military generals not only in the Philippines to bring their spouses when they go abroad on official business.

“If you are familiar with the military, in the United States Navy, they always take their wives. They have socials,” he added.   

As of yesterday, there was no official word yet from Malacañang Palace whether President Aquino would show up at the wake.

But some members of the Aquino Cabinet – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, and Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim – came on Wednesday.

Among the prominent personalities who visited Reyes’ remains were businessman Peter Wallace, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, former police general Geary Barias, retired Commodore Rex Robles and former Environment secretary Mike Defensor.

“It’s a difficult situation. Clearly, he was pressured. I think it has something to do with his honor,” Wallace said referring to possible reason for Reyes’ committing suicide.

But he said the investigation into the alleged corruption in the armed forces should continue.

“I hope these (investigations) would uncover the real people behind this (corruption),” Wallace said.

Tribute from friends

A necrological Mass was celebrated Wednesday night by Fr. Jun Ciscon, sponsored by Reyes’ mistahs from Philippine Military Academy Class 1966. In his eulogy, retired Army Col. Manuel Espejo, president of Class 1966, vowed their continuing support for the family of Reyes to help them cope with the tragedy.

Another classmate, retired Gen. Raul Urgello recalled how Reyes stood out intellectually during their plebe days in the PMA.

“While we were reading komiks, Angie was reading a philosophical book of Bertrand Russell,” Urgello said.

The PMAers later sang their alma mater song as they stood and saluted Reyes as four honor guards stood by.

The necrological rites were capped by a “serenade” from four small granddaughters of Reyes, namely, Andrea, Thea, Rafi and Martina. They sang the favorite song of Reyes, “What a Wonderful World.”

The audience, many of whom were retired AFP officers and their wives, along with relatives and friends, were seen wiping off tears while the four young girls were singing.

Three stacks of Mass cards up to four feet high were placed beside the casket. Only the wreaths sent by President Aquino were allowed inside the chapel to save space. One of those who sent wreaths was fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson. Lacson belonged to PMA Class ’71.

Reyes was in his white uniform. A Philippine flag drapes Reyes’ white casket on top of which are “goodbye, Papa-Gie” letters of his four young granddaughters.

Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo were among the first to show up at the wake, along with their son and Camarines Rep. Dato Arroyo.

At Camp Aguinaldo

The remains of Reyes will be brought to St. Ignatius Chapel at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City today. Burial, with full military honors, is at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio on Sunday.

Marc, one of Reyes’ five sons, said yesterday his father’s remains would be moved out of Arlington at 10 a.m.

“The late Gen. Angelo T. Reyes, former Secretary of National Defense (SND) and a soldier who also served as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (CSAFP), is scheduled to be accorded with military honors here starting Friday at 10 a.m.,” said Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos, chief of the AFP’s Public Information Office (PIO), in a statement.

“He (Reyes) will stay there so the public, especially the soldiers whom he loved, may view him,” Marc said in a press conference. 

A final Mass for Reyes will be held at 8 a.m. The funeral motorcade is expected to leave Camp Aguinaldo for Libingan at about 10 a.m.

“We are still grieving. We lost our father. Anyone experiencing grief can relate to that experience,” he said.

“We told them (grandchildren) Papa Gie (Reyes) will be with them forever. He is in our hearts,” Marc said referring to his father’s grandchildren.

Marc said he doesn’t fault his father for taking his own life.

“He did that for a reason. I believe he did that for his family and the AFP,” he said.

“For our father, our family is sacred. When he comes home (from work), that was his refuge.”

AFP chief Gen. Ricardo David said the country has lost a “national leader” and “one of the finest soldiers” to head the military with the death of Reyes.

“The AFP joins the family of the late Gen. Reyes in mourning for the death of a national leader, indeed one of the finest soldiers to have led the AFP. The AFP shall provide honors to the late Gen. Reyes, an honor befitting a former defense secretary and AFP chief and a soldier,” David said.

“I am moved by what has happened over the past few days. Nevertheless, rest assured that our AFP will seriously take these challenges to reflect and continue to improve our system for the benefit of the Filipino people with the help of our esteemed legislators,” David said. With Alexis Romero, Jaime Laude, and Sheila Crisostomo