MANILA,
FEBRUARY 11, 2011 (MALAYA) ROMEO Y.
LIM - 'But what Angie Reyes left behind were more questions than answers
as more angles unfold behind the true cause of why he took his life.'
THE news of former Defense chief Angelo Reyes' suicide literally almost made
me fall from my chair. It was sudden, totally unpredictable and quite a grand
exit.
It is no secret that Angie Reyes and I have no love lost for each other. I
have written some columns about him or mentioned him in these columns and often
in not a flattering manner. In fact, I received a number of comments when I
dared him in one of my columns "na magkilohan kami ng medalya."
But I don't know what it is about death, even that of a foe, that makes one
more somber and retrospective about many things that may or may not involve the
dead itself.
I hope my readers don't get me wrong. I was one of those who cheered on
Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Sonny Trillanes when they drew their swords at
Reyes and practically ganged up on him during the Senate hearing. It was a case
of comeuppance, like a Fernando Poe Jr. movie where our hero first gets beaten
and then rises like a Phoenix and gives the villains a beating worse than what
they gave him.
I am one of those who stood behind Col. George Rabusa while he recounted the
several instances where Reyes and other previous chiefs of staff received their
exorbitant pabaon despite the fact that many of the ordinary soldiers could not
even get their own water canteen. I myself had sometimes used a Coke litro
bottle as my drinking canteen on a few occasions and to think, I was an officer.
I don't know. Maybe in my old age I have become a sentimental fool or worse,
a softie. But maybe I just have the traditional Filipino value of respecting the
dead.
Killing himself while he was at his parents' graves may have pinched at my
heart but the grief coming from his family was heartbreaking. As a family man
myself and with my share of the death of loved ones, I can relate to the anguish
and pain they are going through.
But what Angie Reyes left behind were more questions than answers as more
angles unfold behind the true cause of why he took his life. Even though the
pressure surrounding him was unbearable, he had his family and friends as a
strong network of support.
I can only surmise that it was precisely the well-being of his family and
friends, especially his family, that triggered the decision to commit suicide.
Reports from my friends at the AFP also state tht he opted to end his life
rather than drag the whole AFP through this messy episode.
Whatever the reason, I can only pray for his soul. Despite the fact that he
was a nemesis, he was, for all intents and purposes, a comrade-in-arms.
I commiserate with his family and friends. And I fervently hope that his
death will not be in vain. With his passing, I hope that the floodgates of truth
will be opened soon.
Makonsensya na sana kayo.
Chief News Editor:
Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011
by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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