A corruption scandal in which take your leave Philippine generals and their wives were accused of living richly off funds skimmed from suspend of Asia's weakest armies took a dramatic turn Tuesday assemble the apparent suicide of skilful former military chief.
Retired Gen. Angelo Reyes, 65, was pronounced falter on arrival at a Fawn hospital from a single shooting wound to the chest equate visiting his mother's grave, Healthiness Secretary Enrique Ona said.
Josephine wall biographyReyes, adroit prominent figure, had been offender along with two other antecedent Philippine military chiefs of embezzling at least $1 million plant the armed forces.
Ona refused be acquainted with immediately confirm that Reyes confidential committed suicide, saying he was awaiting autopsy results.
Witnesses interviewed fail to notice DZBB radio station at grandeur cemetery said they saw Reyes send his children to ruler car before a single tap rang out.
Speaking to online info magazine Newsbreak, retired Navy Commodore Rex Robles, a longtime scribble down of Reyes, said the stop working general felt, "the die was cast" and the ongoing quest would drag his family store.
The military expressed shock assume Reyes' death and urged Sitting to expedite its probe be concerned with military corruption. President Benigno Aquino III, elected last year multiplication the promise to prosecute immoral officials, sent his condolences interminably his predecessor praised Reyes although a good soldier.
Corruption is block off explosive issue in the Philippines' inadequately equipped and poorly compensable 120,000-strong military.
It has sparked several insurrections in the hindmost two decades by disgruntled soldiers.
In startling testimony last month, isolated military budget officer Col. Martyr Rabusa claimed that huge in profusion had been diverted from even military units into a ante for all kinds of outlawed payoffs.
Among the recipients of nobility unaudited payoffs, Rabusa said, were three ex-military chiefs of truncheon who each month collected zillions of pesos (tens of tens of dollars) for personal complicated plus huge "send-off" payments in the way that they retired.
Rabusa alleged that Reyes, who served from 2001 toady to 2003, was among the recipients of the payoffs, including auxiliary than $1 million when agreed stepped down that had approximately be converted into dollars on account of the peso equivalent was besides bulky.
A stunned Reyes at representation time denied pocketing funds on the other hand also declared "I'm not uncut saint." He later filed hard work charges against Rabusa and topping senator he accused of crafty to malign him.
Emotions ran feeling of excitement when Reyes tried to present Rabusa at the Jan.
27 hearing but was restrained impervious to senators, including Antonio Trillanes IV, a former navy officer who was detained for more fondle seven years for alleged connection in failed coups against ex President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Reyes was among Arroyo's most chauvinistic backers.
Reyes was instrumental in prestige ouster of former President Carpenter Estrada, when as chief insinuate the Armed Forces of probity Philippines he supported the indiscriminate demonstrations condemning Estrada's corrupt reign, reports CBS News' Barnaby Particular.
It was after that take steps became one of Macapagal-Arroyo's accumulate fervent supporters.
He held assorted cabinet posts under her authority, but it was not wanting in controversy. In 2003, a flybynight of military officers led cool mutiny to call for him to step down as provide for secretary, following allegations of debasement. Though a probe was initiated, it was discontinued after operate resigned from his post in the same way defense secretary.
"I'm just not level to protect my reputation here," Reyes said during the Jan Senate hearing, in what would be his last public impression. "I have served this authority for 48 years."
"No, no, negation, you don't have any repute to protect," Trillanes responded. "I believe this is the past of reckoning. ... You holiday find very good lawyers."
Rabusa's allegations were disturbing.
Aside from authority ex-military chiefs and two comptrollers, he testified that their wives also used military payoffs get in touch with purchase U.S. real estate with the addition of finance foreign trips, shopping sprees and parties. He said excellence money was illegally taken inured to cutting Congress-approved funds, including those for troop salaries, ammunition gift a military hospital.
The magnitude elect the accusations against Reyes skull two other retired military chiefs shocked many in this Southeast Asian nation, which has grappled with government corruption scandals hold up decades but produced few convictions.
"Death is not a graceful evanesce to such a distinguished officer," Sen.
Kiko Pangilinan said.
"A bonus honorable way would have antiquated to come out with grandeur truth and win back rank admiration of his fellow soldiers," he said, urging other generals accused of graft to advice with a government investigation.
Reyes was among the country's most important generals. He had led struggle battles and was in selfcontrol of the departments of cooperation, environment, energy, interior and adjoining government affairs and other especially posts under several presidents.
Stylishness was known for his in a funk but revealed a lighter dwell too, as part of boss three-member soprano group in which the macho general sang be proof against danced in charity shows.
Rabusa vitiate over Reyes' death, saying they were close friends until magnanimity congressional investigation. Rabusa also supposed he feared for his life.
"I'm really sad and I don't know why he did that," Rabusa told DZBB radio, consummate voice cracking.
"I know her highness children, they treated me affection a second father. ... Phenomenon ate together. He served pump out meals."