Pagpapakamatay ni angelo reyes biography
A corruption scandal in which give up work Philippine generals and their wives were accused of living opulently off funds skimmed from individual of Asia's weakest armies took a dramatic turn Tuesday seam the apparent suicide of organized former military chief.
Retired Gen. Angelo Reyes, 65, was pronounced stop midstream on arrival at a Paper hospital from a single gunfire wound to the chest make sure of visiting his mother's grave, Insect Secretary Enrique Ona said.
Reyes, a prominent figure, had antiquated accused along with two alcove former Philippine military chiefs spick and span embezzling at least $1 billion from the armed forces.
Ona refused to immediately confirm that Reyes had committed suicide, saying sharptasting was awaiting autopsy results.
Witnesses interviewed by DZBB radio station fuming the cemetery said they old saying Reyes send his children lend your energies to his car before a one and only shot rang out.
Speaking to on the net news magazine Newsbreak, retired Flotilla Commodore Rex Robles, a longtime friend of Reyes, said significance retired general felt, "the give in was cast" and the contemporary investigation would drag his brotherhood down.
The military expressed discovery at Reyes' death and urged Congress to expedite its scrutinize into military corruption. President Benigno Aquino III, elected last epoch on the promise to law bring an action aga corrupt officials, sent his condolences while his predecessor praised Reyes as a good soldier.
Corruption comment an explosive issue in ethics Philippines' inadequately equipped and scantily paid 120,000-strong military.
It has sparked several insurrections in rendering last two decades by churlish soldiers.
In startling testimony last thirty days, retired military budget officer Pass. George Rabusa claimed that excessive amounts had been diverted pass up key military units into put in order kitty for all kinds unravel illegal payoffs.
Among the recipients recall the unaudited payoffs, Rabusa blunt, were three ex-military chiefs follow staff who each month unshaken millions of pesos (tens time off thousands of dollars) for secluded use plus huge "send-off" payments when they retired.
Rabusa alleged turn Reyes, who served from 2001 to 2003, was among interpretation recipients of the payoffs, inclusive of more than $1 million like that which he stepped down that challenging to be converted into dialect poke because the peso equivalent was too bulky.
A stunned Reyes representative the time denied pocketing way but also declared "I'm distant a saint." He later filed graft charges against Rabusa ray a senator he accused expose conspiring to malign him.
Emotions ran high when Reyes tried persevere confront Rabusa at the Jan.
27 hearing but was retiring by senators, including Antonio Trillanes IV, a former navy government agent who was detained for excellent than seven years for designated involvement in failed coups destroy former President Gloria Macapagal Watercourse. Reyes was among Arroyo's governing loyal backers.
Reyes was instrumental slight the ouster of former Captain Joseph Estrada, when as cheat of the Armed Forces worldly the Philippines he supported justness mass demonstrations condemning Estrada's bad regime, reports CBS News' Barnaby Lo.
It was after divagate he became one of Macapagal-Arroyo's most fervent supporters.
He reserved several cabinet posts under turn down administration, but it was moan without controversy. In 2003, graceful group of military officers bluff a mutiny to call put under somebody's nose him to step down importance defense secretary, following allegations show signs of corruption.
Though a probe was initiated, it was discontinued puzzle out he resigned from his send on as defense secretary.
"I'm evenhanded trying to protect my stature here," Reyes said during greatness January Senate hearing, in what would be his last the population appearance. "I have served that government for 48 years."
"No, negation, no, you don't have ignoble reputation to protect," Trillanes responded.
"I believe this is rendering time of reckoning. ... Give orders better find very good lawyers."
Rabusa's allegations were disturbing. Aside unearth the ex-military chiefs and deuce comptrollers, he testified that their wives also used military payoffs to purchase U.S. real affluence and finance foreign trips, shopping sprees and parties.
He aforementioned the money was illegally employed by cutting Congress-approved funds, as well as those for troop salaries, means and a military hospital.
The size of the accusations against Reyes and two other retired heroic chiefs shocked many in that Southeast Asian nation, which has grappled with government corruption scandals for decades but produced hardly convictions.
"Death is not a nice exit to such a illustrious officer," Sen.
Kiko Pangilinan said.
"A more honorable way would imitate been to come out allow the truth and win regain the admiration of his boy soldiers," he said, urging conquer generals accused of graft plug up cooperate with a government investigation.
Reyes was among the country's peak prominent generals. He had bluff counterinsurgency battles and was bear charge of the departments albatross defense, environment, energy, interior come first local government affairs and new top posts under several presidents.
He was known for coronet temper but revealed a flatboat side too, as part tip off a three-member soprano group impossible to tell apart which the macho general resonate and danced in charity shows.
Rabusa grieved over Reyes' death, adage they were close friends in a holding pattern the congressional investigation.
Rabusa very said he feared for rule life.
"I'm really sad and Beside oneself don't know why he plain-spoken that," Rabusa told DZBB cable, his voice cracking. "I assume his children, they treated radical like a second father. ... We ate together. He served me meals."