AFP gives Reyes full military honors

MANILA, Philippines –  The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) gave full military honors to its departed former chief Angelo Reyes yesterday.

Reyes’ remains were moved to Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City where President Aquino and more of the late general’s supporters and friends came to pay their last respects.s

The hearse bearing Reyes’ remains arrived at St. Ignatius Cathedral at Camp Aguinaldo before noon from Arlington’s Ascension Chapel.

A religious-military hymn played in the background while pallbearers carried Reyes’ casket to the church.

AFP vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu led brigadier generals in escorting the general’s remains.

Senior military officers who were at Camp Aguinaldo to pay their last respects to their former chief included former AFP chief Gen. Dionisio Santiago, former Navy chief Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga, former Defense undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor and several members of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1966 to which Reyes belonged.

The wake at St. Ignatius chapel will be held only until sunset today as Reyes’ remains will be transferred to a canopy in front of the AFP main headquarters building for necrological services this evening. He will be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City tomorrow.

The President arrived at 4:15 p.m., accompanied by former senator Manuel Roxas, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, AFP chief Gen. Ricardo David, Palace spokesman Edwin Lacierda, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena. The group came from Jolo.

Aquino stayed for about 20 minutes and left before the start of a Mass. Some two hours later, former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived. 

Before Camp Aguinaldo, Reyes’ remains were brought first to Ramon Magsaysay High School in Cubao where the late general graduated valedictorian in 1960.

Normandie Pizarro, founding president of the high school’s alumni group, praised Reyes for his contributions to his alma mater.

Florentina Gorospe, vice chair of the alumni association, said Reyes’ accusers were “inhumane.”

“You will remain alive in our memory. I hope you would be instrumental in awakening the Filipinos, especially those who are not humane in dealing with others,” Gorospe said.

“I believe he is clean. I think he was not involved in any corruption. He was a straight man. Perhaps they (critics) are just envious,” she told The STAR.

Evelyn Marasigan, a graduate of batch ’74, also slammed Reyes’ critics for easily passing judgment on him.

Cielo Fariñas, retired head of the music, arts and physical education department of the school, called Reyes “a man of integrity.”

“The students love him (Reyes). He has a huge love for the country,” she said.

Blancaflor, meanwhile, said that Reyes only proved that the AFP was “bigger than any one of us” when he took his own life.

“It took extreme courage to fulfill such sacrifice,” Blancaflor said. – Jaime Laude, Alexis Romero, Edu Punay