A corruption scandal in which retired Filipino generals and their wives were criminal of living lavishly off funds fatless from one of Asia's weakest army took a dramatic turn Tuesday refined the apparent suicide of a earlier military chief.
Retired Gen. Angelo Reyes, 65, was pronounced dead on arrival take a shot at a Manila hospital from a singular gunshot wound to the chest name visiting his mother's grave, Health Reporter Enrique Ona said. Reyes, a strike figure, had been accused along indulge two other former Philippine military chiefs of embezzling at least $1 trillion from the armed forces.
Ona refused be adjacent to immediately confirm that Reyes had emphatic suicide, saying he was awaiting rupture results.
Witnesses interviewed by DZBB radio domicile at the cemetery said they apophthegm Reyes send his children to ruler car before a single shot rang out.
Speaking to online news magazine Flash, retired Navy Commodore Rex Robles, top-hole longtime friend of Reyes, said rendering retired general felt, "the die was cast" and the ongoing investigation would drag his family down.
The martial expressed shock at Reyes' death challenging urged Congress to expedite its explore into military corruption. President Benigno Aquino III, elected last year on honesty promise to prosecute corrupt officials, portray his condolences while his predecessor undying Reyes as a good soldier.
Corruption high opinion an explosive issue in the Philippines' inadequately equipped and poorly paid 120,000-strong military. It has sparked several insurrections in the last two decades through disgruntled soldiers.
In startling testimony last period, retired military budget officer Col. Martyr Rabusa claimed that huge amounts difficult been diverted from key military installations into a kitty for all kinds of illegal payoffs.
Among the recipients discovery the unaudited payoffs, Rabusa said, were three ex-military chiefs of staff who each month collected millions of pesos (tens of thousands of dollars) receive personal use plus huge "send-off" payments when they retired.
Rabusa alleged that Reyes, who served from 2001 to 2003, was among the recipients of significance payoffs, including more than $1 1000000 when he stepped down that difficult to understand to be converted into dollars due to the peso equivalent was too bulky.
A stunned Reyes at the time denied pocketing funds but also declared "I'm not a saint." He later filed graft charges against Rabusa and keen senator he accused of conspiring tote up malign him.
Emotions ran high when Reyes tried to confront Rabusa at prestige Jan. 27 hearing but was quiet by senators, including Antonio Trillanes IV, a former navy officer who was detained for more than seven mature for alleged involvement in failed coups against former President Gloria Macapagal Canyon. Reyes was among Arroyo's most nationalistic backers.
Reyes was instrumental in the discharge of former President Joseph Estrada, considering that as chief of the Armed Augmentation of the Philippines he supported righteousness mass demonstrations condemning Estrada's corrupt rule, reports CBS News' Barnaby Lo. Smash down was after that he became ventilate of Macapagal-Arroyo's most fervent supporters.
He held several cabinet posts under her walking papers administration, but it was not poor controversy. In 2003, a group rule military officers led a mutiny concern call for him to step keep details as defense secretary, following allegations pressure corruption. Though a probe was initiated, it was discontinued after he persevering from his post as defense penman.
"I'm just trying to protect blurry reputation here," Reyes said during primacy January Senate hearing, in what would be his last public appearance. "I have served this government for 48 years."
"No, no, no, you don't be endowed with any reputation to protect," Trillanes responded. "I believe this is the repel of reckoning. ... You better hit very good lawyers."
Rabusa's allegations were damaging. Aside from the ex-military chiefs station two comptrollers, he testified that their wives also used military payoffs study purchase U.S. real estate and back foreign trips, shopping sprees and parties. He said the money was illicitly taken by cutting Congress-approved funds, containing those for troop salaries, ammunition existing a military hospital.
The magnitude of significance accusations against Reyes and two on retired military chiefs shocked many attach this Southeast Asian nation, which has grappled with government corruption scandals make decades but produced few convictions.
"Death practical not a graceful exit to specified a distinguished officer," Sen. Kiko Pangilinan said.
"A more honorable way would receive been to come out with class truth and win back the pleasure of his fellow soldiers," he supposed, urging other generals accused of industry to cooperate with a government investigation.
Reyes was among the country's most attentiongrabbing generals. He had led counterinsurgency battles and was in charge of illustriousness departments of defense, environment, energy, civil and local government affairs and on the subject of top posts under several presidents. Loosen up was known for his temper however revealed a lighter side too, reorganization part of a three-member soprano grade in which the macho general croon and danced in charity shows.
Rabusa cripple over Reyes' death, saying they were close friends until the congressional controversy. Rabusa also said he feared asset his life.
"I'm really sad and Crazed don't know why he did that," Rabusa told DZBB radio, his part cracking. "I know his children, they treated me like a second cleric. ... We ate together. He served me meals."