Reyes, 65, had become the central figure in ex-military budget officer George Rabusa’s exposé on past military chiefs of staff pocketing hefty sums drawn from military slush funds.

“Why did they decide to choose Reyes as a whipping boy? They have to answer to their consciences,” retired Commodore Rex Robles, a close friend of Reyes, said in an interview.

“Are they happy or sad that the investigation has reached a certain logical conclusion? Did they foresee this at all in their desire to project themselves as guardians of people’s coffers?” Robles added.

The congressional inquiries into military corruption have riveted the country over the past two weeks. But with Reyes’ suicide, the spotlight has shifted to the senators who had grilled him.

In the face of a “backlash” over Reyes’ suicide, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said the blue ribbon committee would see its inquiry through its logical end.

“While I feel sad that this thing happened to a friend, because Secretary Angelo Reyes is a good friend of mine, nonetheless, as head of this institution, I must uphold the right of the Senate to conduct an investigation in aid of legislation,” Enrile said on the floor.

Otherwise, giving up such a prerogative may lead to a breakdown of “this government, this nation, this institution,” Enrile said.

Not guilty

“I’m not guilty,” a somber-looking Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, who presented Rabusa as a “surprise witness” against Reyes, told reporters in an ambush interview.

In a statement from the United States, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, chair of the blue ribbon committee, condoled with Reyes’ family, but said the inquiry should be seen through to its “swift conclusion.”

Sen. Francis Escudero, chair of the justice committee which is jointly conducting the inquiry, announced that the committees had deferred the inquiry from this week to next week in view of Reyes’ death.

“We are finding the answers to the problem. We have enough materials in our hands. We have to pursue this to the end because if we do not, this institution of the Senate will also suffer,” Enrile told reporters.

How to carry on

Members of the House of Representatives, who are also looking into corruption in the military, said they would continue with the investigation.

“There will be some gaps but I think we have enough,” Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez said.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño said there were still other officials who could spill the beans.

“Reyes could have provided vital information but many other officials are still there to provide that,” Casiño said.

He said Reyes’ death might prompt informants to withhold information on his alleged involvement in anomalies, out of respect.

“In any case, corruption does not start and end with Reyes. Thus, the investigations should be pursued,” Casiño said.

Wife, too

At the Senate’s inquiry into the plea bargain agreement between ex-military comptroller Carlos Garcia and prosecutors on Jan. 27, Reyes showed up as a resource person, but ended up the accused.

Rabusa’s testimony that he delivered P50 million in send-off money to Reyes upon his retirement on top of a P5-million monthly allocation while he was in office so stunned the former chief of staff that it took him time to respond and deny it.

Reyes skipped the next two hearings, which slowly uncovered the fact that his wife Teresita benefited from military largesse, including foreign trips and shopping money.

Public humiliation

Robles, a member of the Feliciano Commission that inquired into the causes of the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny, said he believed that Reyes was subjected to public humiliation in the Senate.

“There are indications that the investigation is going beyond ferreting out the truth. They’re out to trample on the reputation of certain individuals,” he said on the phone.

The inquiry, Robles said, should not reach the “point of carnival and public spectacle.”

“It should not use its coercive powers to destroy the image upon the say-so of somebody else. That’s for the courts to decide. If the person is damaged, the Senate doesn’t have the accountability for damaged reputations,” he said.

Not responsible

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who had a verbal exchange with Reyes at the Jan. 27 hearing, said the senators should not feel responsible for Reyes’ death.

“Remember General Reyes is a graduate of the PMA (Philippine Military Academy). He used to be a chief of staff, so he went through all the pressures necessary to survive those chapters in his life. We’re not privy to what went on in his mind. We will never know,” he told reporters.

Trillanes said comments that the Senate had driven Reyes to commit suicide were unfortunate.

“It’s not going to help General Reyes’ [family] in their moment of grief,” he said.

Trial by publicity

Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, who has inhibited himself from the inquiry because Garcia was his classmate in the PMA, said it was “possible” that Reyes was a victim of a trial by publicity.

“[It’s] possible. The results would have to speak for itself according to the theory and now it is being supported by facts. Secretary Reyes took his own life,” he told reporters.

Honasan earlier warned against prematurely implicating officials in corruption without solid evidence, saying that any delicate information should be heard in an executive session.

Estrada said in a statement that he was “saddened” by Reyes’ death and joined his colleagues in extending his condolences to his family.

“This event, though unfortunate, is truly a sad episode in our nation’s history. I just hope that Secretary Reyes’ death will bring the changes toward deeper enlightenment and understanding our country so greatly deserves,” he said.

Reyes last letter

The death of Reyes loomed large over the House justice committee hearing, to whom his last words were to decline an invitation to appear and deny any involvement in the plea bargain deal.

Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., chair of the justice committee, shared Reyes’ letter with the committee.

“I must beg your indulgence as I really have nothing to do with and have no involvement in the plea bargain agreement entered into between Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia and the government,” Reyes’ letter read.

“Furthermore, I have had no participation at all and am not privy to the plea bargain agreement,” he added.

Reyes said that since he was not involved in the plea bargain, he could contribute nothing to the hearing, and thus asked to be excused.

Tupas called for a minute of silence at the start of the hearing, while the committee passed a resolution expressing condolences for the passing of Reyes.

Former government auditor Heidi Mendoza, a star witness in the hearing, said she was sending her heartfelt condolences to Reyes’ loved ones.

“Whatever has happened, I leave it up to God,” she said.

TJ Burgonio & Leila Salaverria, Phil. Daily Inquirer