CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Feb. 9, 2011—The Pagbabago! People’s Movement for Change yesterday challenged authorities to dig deeper into allegations of corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines following the apparent suicide of former chief-of-staff General Angelo Reyes.
Senator Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating the alleged corruption, said Reyes’s death was “a shock.”
“The news of former Secretary Angelo Reyes’ untimely death has come to us as a shock. We share the pain of the Reyes family in this time of great loss. We condole with them and assure them of our prayers,” Guingona said.
Pagbabago!, however, said that his death “should not in any way derail the investigations being conducted by the Senate and the House.”
“On the contrary, these probes must intensify to get those involved, whether military or civilian officials, accountable,” said Fr. Joe Dizon, Pagbabago! Spokesperson.
Dizon added: “It is in the national interest” that the investigation should continue.
Reyes was implicated in the ongoing congressional probes on corruption in the military and the plea bargaining deal between the Ombudsman and ex-military comptroller General Carlos Garcia.
“Unfortunate” was how Dizon described the former chief-of-staff’s sudden death.
He said that as Reyes, who held various Cabinet positions under the Arroyo administration, “could have helped shed light on the systemic corruption not only within the military but also the civilian bureaucracy in the previous regime.”
“Sadly, he chose to remain silent up to the very end. I hope that this will also serve as wake up call to all those who must answer the people’s demand for justice. Only the truth can give us true peace of mind,” he added.
Guingona said that Reyes’s death will “only further strengthen our resolve to bring the current probe on issues hounding the Armed Forces of the Philippines to a swift, just and rightful conclusion. We are confident that Secretary Reyes shares with all of us the aspiration to help shed light on AFP-related issues and help reform the institution.”
Dizon, on the other hand, urged the public to continue to support former state auditor Heidi Mendoza, former AFP budget officer Colonel George Rabusa, and others who have come forward to reveal the extent and intricacies of corruption in the AFP. (Bong D. Fabe)
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