Shock and sadness reportedly swept the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division in Western Visayas after former Armed Forces chief Angelo Reyes who was accused of corruption, allegedly killed himself, in front of his mother’s grave in Marikina City, Metro Manila, yesterday morning.

While church and government officials in Negros Occidental called for prayers for Reyes.

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra said “Only God can judge what he did. I hope this sad event will stir the consciences of people who are contributory to this drastic and desperate decision of the ex-secretary to end his life this tragic way. May God have mercy on his soul.”

Negros Occidental Alfredo Marañon Jr. said “Let us pray for him, may his soul rest in peace and may the Lord forgive him for his shortcomings.”

He said the Senate investigation on military anomalies is “a good lesson to those who commit anomalies that at the end of the day, you can’t take it with you.”

Fr. Aniceto Buenafe, head of the Diocese of Bacolod Social Action Center, said “We pity him, let’s pray for the eternal repose of his soul.”

Health Secretary Enrique Ona, in a press briefing, said Reyes, 65, died from a bullet through his chest. The police said it was self-inflicted.

Reyes who served as AFP chief and later as secretary of Defense, Interior and Local Government, Environment and Natural Resources as well as Energy under the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, came into the spotlight after former military budget officer George Rabusa claimed that he and other military chiefs received millions of pesos in send-off money.

“We, in the 3ID, are saddened by the news that former secretary Angelo Reyes took his own life today…(and) mourn his sudden demise,” Maj. Gen. Vicente Porto, 3rd Infantry Division commander, said.

Porto said the ongoing Senate hearings about corruption in the AFP have already claimed the life of Reyes. “We hope it will not affect the image of the AFP itself as an institution,” he added.

While 3ID soldiers are not affected by the proceedings on live TV and radio coverage, Porto said “We will not allow these events to unwittingly destroy the morale of our soldiers on the ground who are trying to preserve democracy and our government.”

He added that he instructed army field commanders to continuously enlighten the troops about the positive effects of the investigations.

Porto also said they will never allow insurgency to be the eventual beneficiary in all of these, as the CPP-NPA-NDF eagerly await by the sidelines for the collapse of the AFP as an institution.

Amidst the alleged corruption scandal in the AFP, Porto said the 3ID remains focused on its mandate to clear Western Visayas of armed insurgents.

Since most cases against the some generals have already been filed in court, Porto said “We will let the law take its due course, and eagerly await its early resolution”.

Police Regional Office-6 Director, Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, yesterday said he was surprised about Reyes death, but appealed to everyone to stop speculating on the real reason for his alleged suicide.

Perhaps, Querol added, the controversy linking Reyes’ name to the alleged corruption in the Armed Forces may have triggered his alleged suicide.

But the people should wait for the final investigation on what really happened to him and what triggered his action, Querol said.

Police Director General Jaime Calungsod, Directorate for Integrated Operations in Visayas chief, said that Reyes was a great loss not only to the military but also to his family and friends.

Calungsod, who have met Reyes on several occasions when he was still assigned in the Quezon City Police District, said he was saddened by the sudden demise of the former AFP official.*GPB/CPG/APN

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