The biggest news from the Philippines today was not the birthday of Pres. Noynoy Aquino but the death of former Cabinet Secretary Angelo Reyes from an apparent suicide. Reyes served as Armed Forces Chief of Staff under then Pres. Joseph Estrada but later, helped toppled him in EDSA 2 that brought Ms. Gloria Arroyo to power. His role in the revolt earned him a huge debt of gratitude from Arroyo, who in turn rewarded him with different cabinet positions all throughout her term. He has served as Secretary of Defense (2001-2003), Interior and Local Government (2004-2006), Environment and Natural Resources (2006-2007) and Energy (2007-2010). He remained loyal to Arroyo even amidst the various scandals that hit her Administration.
His death came in the middle of a now full-blown scandal surrounding the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Several retired generals and former Chiefs-of-Staff, including Reyes, are being accused by a former military Budget Officer of pocketing millions of pesos during their retirement. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is conducting a hearing about this allegation and has threatened to file a plunder case to Reyes et al.
But Reyes chose to end his participation in the hearing, albeit in an unexpected way.
He went to his mother's grave this morning, probably to say his last prayers and just maybe, his apologies. He asked his two sons who were with him to leave him for awhile. Then he pointed his gun to his chest and took his own life.The scene was rather dramatic but an abrupt ending to an otherwise decorated career.
His death offered more questions rather than answers. What leads him to commit suicide? What is he hiding? Who are the people he is protecting? Whether or not his act of suicide is already an admission of guilt by itself is now beyond man’s judgment. It is just a pity that a once respected general and public figure had to end his life that way.
To some, it is gallant way --an honorable exit by choosing to end his life and continue protecting the other people around him. Reyes chose to die and forever be silent, in the process taking everything he knows to the grave with him.
But to most of us, it is a cowardly act..He chose not to defend himself, not to clean his name and his family who is now also being dragged to the mess.
Whatever the outcome of the Senate hearing may be, it will not change the fact that it already cost one family's reputation and sadly, a father's life. I just hope it will not suffer the same fate as the others. We have had our share of high profile scandals in the past that after all those grand standing and numerous debates are now just gathering dusts in the archives, without a single person behind bars. Scandals that hog the headlines for some time then die down naturally until a new scandal comes up.. Scandals that usually leave the subjects scot-free and unscathed while the common people who testified against them leading abnormal lives, jobless and penniless..and yes, even dead.
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