The Reyes Dilemma

This morning, I was a bit shocked to learned of the death of former Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes. We might recall that Reyes figured in a recent high-profile senate investigations involving graft for pocketing millions of pesos during his tenure as chief of staff of the AFP.

Reyes when  days were better

Reyes was pronounced dead on arrival in a Manila hospital after sustaining a single gunshot wound in the chest. Reportedly, Reyes visited his brother's grave before the incident.

Authorities are mum (at least for the meantime) as far as the reason behind his death. He is believed to have committed suicide resulting from the aparrent anxieties he had to suffer brought about by the exposes against him before the senate floor.

The corruption scandals in the Philippine military are quite telling considering the meager budgetary allotments the AFP receives from the government. Military spending has been on a downhill slide since 1996 until the present, with the 2009's allotment represented only 0.8% of the GDP according to World Bank data. 

Last month, Reyes had to dodge charges of his supposed irregularities when he was still chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Foremost among these is the staggering amount he supposedly received as "send-off" payments when he retired. The accuser, Col. George Rabusa, confirmed he was on of those responsible for delivering more than $1 million when Reyes stepped down as chief of staff.

Amassing wealth from the government is detestable and is a great disservice to one's country and fellowmen. It is obscene when done to a country like the Philippines that has been trying to maintain a poorly-equipped military all these years of separatist movements, leftist insurrections and terrorism among others.

I have yet to see a looter of this country serve their life in incarceration. More often than not, those accused of irregularities would escape through the maze of technicalities that this country's legal framework has to offer making this country a safe haven for plunderers, robbers, despoilers, burglars and all sorts of crooks.

Reyes, for his part, chose a different path (that is if proven that he did commit suicide). If the accusations were true, his death serves nothing at all. It puts an end to life (his life) but leaves many questions behind. No matter what, we would never be able to fathom his anxieties, his fears or angst. Only God knows how he had to look himself with scorn but he could have done a better service by coming clean and face the consequences of his dastardly actions.

We never asked for his death. What does that make of us asking for death to befall on a poor accused fellow. Besides, the liars, the crooks the despoilers of our country do not deserve death for death are reserved for the heroes. Then again, if the accusations were true, he would not deserved death for death would be much too honorable for him!!

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Leonel Agir