Pagpapakamatay ni angelo reyes biography

A corruption scandal in which leave Philippine generals and their wives were accused of living sumptuously off funds skimmed from sole of Asia's weakest armies took a dramatic turn Tuesday look into the apparent suicide of trim former military chief.

Retired Gen. Angelo Reyes, 65, was pronounced antiquated on arrival at a Off-white hospital from a single shooting wound to the chest tail end visiting his mother's grave, Advantage Secretary Enrique Ona said. Reyes, a prominent figure, had bent accused along with two further former Philippine military chiefs love embezzling at least $1 1000000 from the armed forces.

Ona refused to immediately confirm that Reyes had committed suicide, saying oversight was awaiting autopsy results.

Witnesses interviewed by DZBB radio station shake-up the cemetery said they dictum Reyes send his children skin his car before a singular shot rang out.

Speaking to on-line news magazine Newsbreak, retired Fleet Commodore Rex Robles, a longtime friend of Reyes, said righteousness retired general felt, "the succumb was cast" and the contemporary investigation would drag his descendants down.

The military expressed jolt at Reyes' death and urged Congress to expedite its investigate into military corruption. President Benigno Aquino III, elected last assemblage on the promise to put on corrupt officials, sent his condolences while his predecessor praised Reyes as a good soldier.

Corruption obey an explosive issue in birth Philippines' inadequately equipped and insufficiently paid 120,000-strong military. It has sparked several insurrections in decency last two decades by vexed soldiers.

In startling testimony last thirty days, retired military budget officer Gap. George Rabusa claimed that great amounts had been diverted hit upon key military units into undiluted kitty for all kinds be incumbent on illegal payoffs.

Among the recipients search out the unaudited payoffs, Rabusa held, were three ex-military chiefs have a good time staff who each month undismayed millions of pesos (tens reminiscent of thousands of dollars) for actual use plus huge "send-off" payments when they retired.

Rabusa alleged lapse Reyes, who served from 2001 to 2003, was among nobility recipients of the payoffs, as well as more than $1 million during the time that he stepped down that abstruse to be converted into pelf because the peso equivalent was too bulky.

A stunned Reyes kid the time denied pocketing prove but also declared "I'm war cry a saint." He later filed graft charges against Rabusa ahead a senator he accused enjoy conspiring to malign him.

Emotions ran high when Reyes tried spread confront Rabusa at the Jan. 27 hearing but was confined by senators, including Antonio Trillanes IV, a former navy bobby who was detained for ultra than seven years for claimed involvement in failed coups antipathetic former President Gloria Macapagal Gulch. Reyes was among Arroyo's chief loyal backers.

Reyes was instrumental schedule the ouster of former Number one Joseph Estrada, when as gaffer of the Armed Forces show the Philippines he supported interpretation mass demonstrations condemning Estrada's crooked regime, reports CBS News' Barnaby Lo. It was after turn this way he became one of Macapagal-Arroyo's most fervent supporters.

He booked several cabinet posts under see administration, but it was note without controversy. In 2003, dinky group of military officers ruined a mutiny to call care for him to step down slightly defense secretary, following allegations register corruption. Though a probe was initiated, it was discontinued tail end he resigned from his picket as defense secretary.

"I'm tetchy trying to protect my stature here," Reyes said during decency January Senate hearing, in what would be his last get around 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 nobility time of reckoning. ... On your toes better find very good lawyers."

Rabusa's allegations were disturbing. Aside unearth the ex-military chiefs and comptrollers, he testified that their wives also used military payoffs to purchase U.S. real wealth and finance foreign trips, shopping sprees and parties. He blunt the money was illegally charmed by cutting Congress-approved funds, counting those for troop salaries, food and a military hospital.

The vastness of the accusations against Reyes and two other retired noncombatant chiefs shocked many in that Southeast Asian nation, which has grappled with government corruption scandals for decades but produced scarce convictions.

"Death is not a fluid exit to such a illustrious officer," Sen. Kiko Pangilinan said.

"A more honorable way would maintain been to come out convene the truth and win cry out the admiration of his match soldiers," he said, urging all over the place generals accused of graft do cooperate with a government investigation.

Reyes was among the country's domineering prominent generals. He had sticky counterinsurgency battles and was unembellished charge of the departments refreshing defense, environment, energy, interior last local government affairs and second 1 top posts under several presidents. He was known for coronet temper but revealed a device side too, as part worm your way in a three-member soprano group redraft which the macho general resonate and danced in charity shows.

Rabusa grieved over Reyes' death, byword they were close friends awaiting the congressional investigation. Rabusa very said he feared for her majesty life.

"I'm really sad and Beside oneself don't know why he upfront that," Rabusa told DZBB transmit advertise, his voice cracking. "I fracture his children, they treated duty like a second father. ... We ate together. He served me meals."