Former AFP chief of staff General Angelo Reyes was in desperate situation that seems to be worthless to explain his part to clean his name on the alleged controversial military corruption because of the people mind-set that he was guilty at all accused against him, said military senior officer in an interview Tuesday.
“I believe that the former Defense secretary and AFP chief of staff Angelo Reyes took his own life because he want to preserve the good reputation of AFP” said Colonel Edgard “Boogie” de Leon, who was an administrative officer during the time of Angelo Reyes in his term as AFP chief.
Reyes was not willing to see that the AFP will collapse because of multiple allegations in military scandal hurled against him and to other former AFP officials and more than that are the allegations to take the toll on soldiers and in the military as a whole, he said.
“That is Angelo Reyes as far as I know, he is willing enough to do everything for the sake of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, no matter how much it costs, even to his very own life, said de Leon.
“If we can remember during the ‘EDSA People’s Power Revolt’, it was Angelo Reyes who decided to pull out his support from then ‘President Joseph Estrada’ for the reason that he cannot afford the Armed Forces to collapse, in which could be possibly resulting to the collapse of the government and the country as well” he added.
“Reyes heart was really belongs to the Armed Forces, he just wants to protect the credibility and good reputation of AFP, and he doesn’t want the AFP to collapse because of many controversial in military fund issues. Knowing him very well, we can understand why he did that” said de Leon.
“Even when he was no longer connected to the AFP, in his civilian life, every time we see each other he would always ask me, ‘kumusta ang Armed Forces’”, said de Leon.
Reyes was so sad aside from facing many irregularities in military funds; he was accused of receiving “pabaon” from the Armed Forces during the time when he retired from service.
“He was very desperate that seems to be no way of whatever testimony he has to present, presumption is, he is always guilty, and the sad is, whatever he says, it will not be accepted as truth. It’s all useless, and what is the use of coming to Congress and testify if the people mind-set is finally fixed that he was guilty” said de Leon.
“For me, Reyes is very honest person, especially to his mother, ‘Purification’ and he did a noble act” said de Leon.
Colonel Edgard de Leon is now reporting duty in Mindanao.
Other friends of Reyes have the same view about taking his own life was beyond the limit of his personality, being a strong man ready to face any difficulties in life and take challenges that come his way.