***death of an officer & a gentleman***

---while a congressional hearing is gearing up for the entire filipino people to see, a tragic incident happened when one of the generals involved took his own life on the family's memorial plot where his parents are buried. apparently, asking for forgiveness or simply just wanting to end it all to save his family's honor.

---i don't know col. angelo reyes personally but i apologize for my actions earlier for making a mockery out of what happened to him. seriously, we still don't know if he's guilty or not. his name was implicated in what is described as corruption in the highest level inside & within the armed forces of the philippines. but there is no doubt that col. garcia (and his family) is guilty of corruption. and now, thanks to COA auditor, heidi mendoza & col. rabusa, who are telling & naming it all - from A-Z.

---in my personal point of view, i see col. reyes as a good person. there may be other factors which could have led him to "accept" (again, not yet proven) large sum of money - not maybe for himself but for his family. his wife was reported to be on a traveling spree and buying properties abroad together with the wife of another general (who acted stupidly while answering queries from sen. jinggoy estrada).

---behind a successful husband is an understanding & supportive wife. a husband's love for his wife may surpass anything, including giving her everything she wants - wealth, especially. properties, good & expensive education for the kids, luxury cars. the husband gave them much - but she wanted more.

---i will bet my last centavo if the wife never knew about this "pasalubong" & "pabaon" thing. rumors have it that the husband didn't even know she was already the one asking for both without his knowing. the generals, their wives & families were getting millions of pesos - money intended for the soldiers of the AFP - salaries, retirement pays, housing, loans. even funding to procure new weapons/ammunitions. but where did the millions go? to the corrupt hands of these people who owe so much the poor, lowly soldiers risking their lives just to defend our country from rebellious elements. poor soldiers & their hungry families. they may never taste the comfort of living in a concrete house, savor the latest gadgets and more importantly, send their children to a good school.

---guilty or not, col. reyes sacrificed his life to have peace of mind - and up to the last moment of his life, saved his family's name & honor. protected those who are also involved. i have to say this, if there is little dignity left on his wife and kids, give back the large sum they took from the AFP and start distributing this to our soldiers. they have enjoyed luxury - from mansions, luxury cars, good & expensive food, endless travels abroad, expensive schools. the husband took his own life because there was little dignity left in him. why not take it from here - or simply duplicate what he did.