Hero's burial for Angie today

MANILA, Philippines - Former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Angelo Reyes, whose sterling career in government ended in a hail of corruption charges and finally suicide, will be laid to rest today with full military honors at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Reyes will be given a 19-gun salute – fired from howitzers – traditionally accorded to departed defense and AFP chiefs. Honor guards will deliver a 21-gun salute during the interment proper.

The funeral journey from Camp Aguinaldo is scheduled to begin at 10 am.

Reyes shot himself before his parents’ graves at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City on Tuesday morning, barely two weeks after being accused by a former subordinate in a Senate hearing of receiving P5 million monthly as chief of the AFP and P50 million upon his retirement in 2001.

His accuser was former military budget officer George Rabusa.

He also received a dressing down from Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV – a former Navy officer – during the Senate hearing last Jan. 27. It was his first and last Senate appearance.

His family and friends believe the humiliation he endured during the Senate hearing drove him to suicide.

His elder brother Lito, who arrived from the US to pay his last respects to his “little big brother,” said he knew the latter as “strong willed.”

“He provided guidance to me…I did not expect it (suicide). He always says kaya ko yan (I can do it),” an emotional Lito said in an interview at Camp Aguinaldo.

“He was an achiever. Whatever the task given to him, whatever problem he faced, he believed he could deal with them,” he added.

“He did not want his family to be dragged into these issues…He looked up to my mom. He viewed her as good-hearted. He was loyal to mom,” he said.

He also belied accusations against his younger brother.

“I don’t think he is capable of doing (such corrupt practices)…He was loyal in serving (the government),” he said.

Lito said it was painful to watch his late brother being grilled at the Senate.

“I am thinking he was set up. I felt sad with what happened. I was hurt,” he said, adding, “I wish I was there.”

Forgiveness

 Reyes’ widow Teresita, who was herself being accused of benefiting from corruption in the military, said she had already forgiven Rabusa.

“We have forgiven him. I leave his fate to God,” Teresita said in an interview with ABS-CBN anchor Korina Sanchez. She said Rabusa is welcome to pay his last respects to her husband.

Reyes’ friends and supporters continued to heap praises on the late AFP chief.

“In taking his own life, he only proved that the institution is bigger than any of us. For us, it took extreme courage to fulfill such a sacrifice,” former Defense Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor said.

Another supporter, Catholic priest Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, lambasted Reyes’ accusers.

“Then – as throughout his brilliant career – he struck me as intelligent and spun out of different material. He had unorthodox views as a soldier, and when I finally got hold of his credentials, as I had invited him to teach in our local graduate school, I was impressed that he had more than just the gleaming stars on his shoulder-boards to commend him,” he said. 

“I mourn his passing because he was a bright man, a true solider and a faithful public servant. Why would a man who had weathered a tempestuous administration and withering trials during his public career die the way he did?”

“As for the ersatz whistle-blower who was budget officer or something in the Armed Forces and made the pabaon claims, he can sniffle and sound sorry all he likes, mourning, he claims, General Angie’s death, to score yet more points with a gullible audience. He has only my scorn and spite,” he said, obviously referring to Rabusa.

“So, that lonely morning, a shot rang out that I hope will disturb no end the consciences of those who had sought not the truth and justice with which they sanctimoniously disguise their lurid aims but sheer vendetta,” he added.

Pangasinan second district Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, a former ranking police officer, said the tragic turn of events has put into focus the role of the Philippine Military Academy in the country’s affairs.

“I am still confident that PMAyers will always abide by the rule of law,” he said.

“I just hope things will be handled in a more prudent manner, in a proper way so it will not evolve into a crisis situation,” he said.

Bataoil also called a proposal of one legislator to have the PMA abolished “another knee-jerk reaction.”

“They’re forgetting the fact that it was the PMAyers whom they relied on during trying moments of our country,” Bataoil said.

“Suddenly because of this incident, they want to abolish it. They should think twice before saying so,” he added.

“I believe that PMA has done much, much more for our country and our people compared to the negative imputations and allegations to some of its members,” he pointed out.

Insensitive

 Meanwhile, former Cabinet colleagues of Reyes said it was “insensitive” and “unkind” for the Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO) to declare in a statement that corruption ended the life of the general.

“We mourn the passing of our beloved fellow Cabinet secretary Angelo Reyes and join his family, friends, and admirers in prayer and remembrance…We lament the insensitive remarks by certain quarters stirring pain and animosity when deep wounds need healing,” they said in a text message.

“We especially deplore the ill-timed and unkind FSGO statement,” they added.

The text message quoted Cabinet officials who served during the Arroyo administration, namely former Commission on Filipinos Overseas chairman Dante Ang, former Presidential Management Staff chief Elena Bautista-Horn, former environment secretary Michael Defensor, former justice secretary Agnes Devanadera, former health secretary and now Civil Service Commission chairman Francisco Duque, former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, former presidential adviser on the peace process Hermogenes Esperon, former trade secretary and now Bangko Sentral Monetary Board member Peter Favila, former justice secretary Raul Gonzalez, former transportation secretary Leandro Mendoza, former secretary to the Cabinet Ricardo Saludo, former labor secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, former press secretary Rigoberto Tiglao, and former agriarian reform secretary Roberto Pagdanganan.

On Friday, the FSGO said it does not find honor in Reyes’ death since it was “without meaning to the welfare of our nation.”

“If he (Reyes) died to escape the consequences of his involvement, or to put a lid on further revelations, or worse, to become a sacrificial lamb for all others more tainted than he, his was not an honorable death,” the FSGO said.

“The smug faces of unpunished corruption that visited his wake only further dishonor him,” it added.

The FSGO statement was signed by former National Economic Council chairman Sixto Roxas, former foreign affairs undersecretary Leticia Ramos-Shahani, and former finance secretary Jesus Estanislao. 

“Gen. Reyes may have died by his own hand, but in truth, corruption killed him,” FSGO said.

FSGO is hopeful that Reyes’ death would pave way to the cleaning of the military.

“Gen. Reyes’ death could not and should not be blamed upon our legislators, no matter how hurtful their statements may have been…It must be clear by now that these legislative inquiries serve a vital function in democratic governance,” it said.

The former Arroyo Cabinet members, however, said the FSGO should have allowed Reyes’ loved ones to mourn in peace.

“We Filipinos are all free to speak openly on issues of public importance. But we also hold our peace to accord the bereaved a time to grieve in peace,” they said.

“Surely, that too is part of decency and good governance.”

A friend of Reyes, retired Navy Commodore Rex Robles, meanwhile said a powerful person had asked and got some P360 million from the conversion of military funds. He did not name names but he said he is willing to appear before lawmakers to divulge more details. - With Alexis Romero, Raymund Catindig, Eva Visperas, Evelyn Macairan, and Perseus Echeminada