Did former AFP chief of staff Gen. Angelo Reyes die in vain?

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: I think Gen. Reyes died in vain because he could have elaborated more on the irregular military tradition, but he chose to silence himself forever.  

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: Can’t make a comment yet because the fight is not yet over. It’s still premature to say that he died in vain because all the guilty ones have not yet been put to jail.  

The truth has been buried with him

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: Let former AFP chief Angelo Reyes rest in peace, but let us not make a hero out of a suicide. His death was far from being heroic. History will be the final judge. Naging tapat ba o taksil siya sa bayan?  

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: Everything that he accomplished has gone to naught. If only he had he chosen to face the music that was playing before the public eye. What was he trying to hide or who is he trying to protect, aside from his family? If only to redeem his tarnished image. I guess we’ll never know his side of the story, unless he left behind some incriminating documents to prove his innocence or complicity, whatever. Yes, he died in vain.   

An officer and a gentleman

Manny Cordeta, Marikina City: Not by a long shot. On the contrary, he died a hero. The poor general had been humbled but was exalted by being accorded a hero’s burial. Some Senate “court stooges” (at least three) must have forgotten that he was supposed to be a resource person, yet he was embarrassed, humiliated and ganged up on. Gen. Reyes deemed it wise enough not to dignify the unsavory, indecent remarks from the handful of brusque, gross and disrespectful senators.  

Dick Villena, La Union: No, Gen. Angelo Reyes did not die in vain. Being a true gentleman and good soldier, he chose to end his life to protect his own and his family’s reputation.  

Eric Gopilan, Parañaque City: No, he is a true soldier at heart. He chose to take his own life to protect others involved in the anomaly.  

He could’ve shed light on corruption

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: Yes, he died in vain for his death didn’t solve anything. He’s better alive than dead to shed light on perceived AFP corruption.  

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Not to add insult to injury but Gen. Angelo Reyes did not in any way help establish the truth in the AFP fund scandal under Senate investigation, in which he was morally and professionally mandated to cooperate. Instead, he left many unanswered questions and even created an unnecessary morbid scenario by taking his own life. Despite many words of admiration attributed to him, many unbiased people think that he led military officials in enjoying perks from the AFP fund through immoral and illegal means, at the expense of foot soldiers fighting lawless elements in the battlefield with inferior weapons and limited supplies due to lack of funds. If he left notes detailing the whole truth about financial irregularities in the AFP, even to the point of incriminating himself, he could have at least salvaged his honor and of his family.  

  Jayson Biadog, Mandaluyong City: No, if he were not guilty, he would have faced the probe squarely.

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: The late Gen. Angie Reyes died in vain because he failed to expose the root causes of corruption in the AFP. He could have left a legacy if he identified the goliaths of corruption in our government before he died.  

Col. Dencio Acop (Ret), Baguio City: First, does anyone have the right to take his own life no matter what his problem is? Some say what the late general did was “honorable”. I am a former soldier, too, and I do not find honor in taking one’s own life in order to escape the truth. Some say Reyes was humiliated by Trillanes and Estrada. So what? Third, I do not see how Reyes’ death eases the pain to himself, his family, or the AFP as an institution. On the other hand, his demise fails probably the greatest opportunity to cleanse the AFP of massive and endemic corruption once and for all. Angie said that he did not wish to “rat” on anybody, that such was not his style, and, therefore, what he knew, which could have helped cleanse an institution he loved, perished along with him. Some suspect that Angie’s silence effectively protected other government officials, higher or lower than him, who are likewise suspected of corruption.

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: I salute the bravery of the late Gen. Angie Reyes for taking his own life. Like a true samurai warrior, Gen. Reyes inflicted upon himself the capital punishment for a samurai who had committed serious offenses or performed for other reasons that had brought shame to the organization. But he would have been braver if he faced the Senate inquiry head-on, and told the body what he knows about decades-old anomalies in the institution.  

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: No one will ever know if indeed he died in vain or was just plain guilty. As a former military man, he should have been brave enough to face the music, especially if he knows he is innocent down to the core, then there is no reason for him to commit suicide because people will think otherwise. There are only three reasons why a person commits suicide: first is no fear in God, second, emotionally unstable, and third, guilty and does not want to face humiliation. Died in vain? I am not here to judge but I would never do something like that unless I was guilty and was afraid to face humiliation.  

Ed Gulmatico, Abu Dhabi: Yes, he died in vain, for with his death, he buried with him the unanswered and lingering question of his guilt, his participation in corruption in the AFP, and the exact amount of looted money he shared with some of his co-officials in the AFP and GMA administration. In spite of his exemplary performance and accomplishments as an officer, gentleman and a soldier, his family will bear the stigma.  

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: I can say that he died in vain because he lost the opportunity to be a hero. The investigation about military corruption is still ongoing. He could have helped in finding who the culprits are. Choosing to end his life can be interpreted as closing his ears and eyes to corruption, striking a blow against freedom, decency and justice

Sense of honor

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Ret. Gen. Angelo Reyes followed the ways of the samurai. He committed harakiri or seppuku to preserve the honor of his parents, family and the AFP.  Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City

He did not die in vain, He showed the world how to deal with his problem. And then be sorry for it.  

Pedro Alagano Jr., Vigan City: When Angie Reyes was maligned and humiliated but tried to defend himself /his reputation, he was cut short by an underclass who turned superior, who rebuffed him in front of national TV, to quote: “No, no, no, no, you have no reputation to protect”. He committed suicide to redeem his honor and demonstrated an act of sacrifice that his beloved country, the Philippines, is worth dying for. May you rest in peace.  

Rey Onate, Palayan City: No, his honor is intact. My snappy salute to him.  

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte : No, it was the most honorable thing for him to do in such a situation. He had to die in order for others to live  in shame.  

Easy way out

Marcus Vincent Fernando, Las Piñas City: What kind of question is that? Is it implying that he fought for something? No, he ran away like a coward because he was guilty.  

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: He died in comfort of not seeing himself appear a traitor to his comrades in the military. He chose it as the safest way to exit, though he accepted that he was part of the culture of corruption. This gave him full satisfaction, but in the eyes of God, taking our own life is forbidden.  

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: Yes, for suicide is an admission of guilt. He chose the easiest way out.  

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: As more revelations are coming out, Gen. Angelo Reyes died in vain, despite others’ claim that he saved the interest of the PMA, the AFP and his family. How can he save the integrity of his alma mater when he violated her code of honor? Yes, life without honor is a tragedy, but to escape from the truth and responsibility through suicide is most tragic.  

Elmo Cruz, Manila: In her column, “Sketches”, Ana Marie Pamintuan invoked what Gen. Reyes had written before he took his own life and which the family released to the PCIJ, to wit: “I might not be guiltless/faultless, but I am not as evil as some would like to portray. I did not invent corruption. I walked into it. Perhaps my first fault was in having accepted aspects of it as a fact of life.” With those statements, Gen. Reyes admitted his guilt. He thought of committing suicide to avoid revealing the whole truth about the AFP fund scam, which he should have eradicated instead of benefitted from.  

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: An ostrich will hide its head in the sand whenever it senses an enemy. A squid will squirt out a blackish liquid to evade an enemy. Both are natural responses to fear or meant for self-preservation. Running away from a fight is simple cowardice. Committing suicide is the worst kind. He died in vain. He failed his countrymen. I am sorry for him.  

It’s between him and God

Elizabeth Oximer, Negros Occidental: Who can be sure? Whatever his reason for taking his own life is between him and his God.  

Unmasking corruption

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: Yes and no! Yes, he died in vain because there were many revelations that he could have made had he chosen to stay alive in order to help cleanse the mess in the military, which is now being investigated. There was more to his suicide than what we only know as being elicited in the inquiries. No, he did not die in vain because he was able to open the doors to change in the AFP and other government institutions.  

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Although humiliated and insulted by two arrogant senators, the death of Gen. Reyes has triggered the cleansing of corruption in the military.  

Louella Brown, Baguio City: Former AFP chief of staff Gen. Angelo Reyes did not die in vain. In due time, the nation will know those individuals whose reputation he wanted to protect.  

Senate inquisitors

Pitts Hizon, Pampanga: No, his untimely demise serves as a wake-up call for legislators to amend Senate rules to protect the rights of witnesses and resource persons.  

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City No, for it highlights two sensitive issues: One is the big-time hocus-pocus of the AFP budget and the inherent privilege of a senator to take everything from a citizen, his rights, honor, dignity, integrity, self-respect and probably even his life, like predators prowling for a piece of meat.  

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: Even a leaf that falls off a tree does not die in vain. Perhaps the inquisitors in the Senate and the House can learn to temper their tongues and arrogance.  

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: No, he could become a spark to awaken the passive majority from their slumber to act and put a stop to these barbaric inquiries “in aid of legislation”.  

Larry Parroco, Quezon City: He must have died in frustration. He felt slighted siguro doon sa interrogation sa kanya and the way he was treated, like a notorious criminal.  

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Gen. Reyes died with honor and integrity for the sake of his family and country, unlike his dirty critics.  

He died a broken man

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: It’s sad to see a decent man corrupted by the system. Worse, he chose to die in vain. He could have chosen to be great and do the final service of a good soldier willing to do whatever it takes for a country that needs courageous men to right a wrong.  

Let people be the judge

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: In the eyes of his family, friends and some former colleagues in the military service, he was a hero. But some would say otherwise, as his death only left big, serious and unanswered questions relative to who is the real brains behind all of these. I believe true soldiers do not die in vain. Was Gen. Reyes a true soldier? It’s up the Filipino people to decide.  

What a waste

Kolby Locano, Urdaneta City:Ayon kay Gen. Reyes, nadatnan na niya ang corruption sa AFP at wala siyang kakayahan na ito ay sugpuin. Isang napakalaking kasinungalingan. Ang isang katulad ni Sen. Trillanes ay sumubok at kung nakiisa sana ang buong AFP sa panahong kailangang-kailangan niya ang ayuda ng military, di sana’y mayroon tayong ipagmamalaking Hukbong Sandatahan. Isang buhay na naman ang nasayang dahil natakot na harapin ang katotohanan. Ang magiting na sundalo ay magbubuwis ng buhay para isiwalat ang katotohanan, hindi upang pagtakpan ang kasinungalingan.  

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