Defiant and undefeated

In life he was defiant and in choosing his death, he was “undefeated”.

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Upon hearing of General Angelo Reyes’ suicide, I reflected on the man, his battles, and the choices he made. It was so hard to imagine “Angie” Reyes ending life the way he did. But after sometime, it all made sense.

Angelo Reyes always behaved as the man in control and in the times he found himself in the lion’s den, he acted as the lion, defiantly growling at his opponents.

We never really understood or “believed” how he could possibly conduct himself with “arrogance” and “defiance”. While most of us expected him to be humble or conciliatory in the presence of people who could make his life miserable, Angelo Reyes would even dare to challenge his detractors and his enemies.

While Angelo Reyes was not as eloquent as the mythical Col. Nathan R. Jessep, the character portrayed by Jack Nicholson in the movie A Few Good Men, defiance was certainly a mutual character trait.

In what was probably the best scene in the movie, Col. Jessep tells Tom Cruise “You can’t handle the truth!” and then proceeds to speak of the cold and ugly reality:

“We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punch line.

“I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to someone who rises and sleep under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner under which I provide it.

“I would rather you just said ‘thank you’ and went your way, otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand at post.

“Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you’re entitled to!”

* * *

Far from romanticizing the suicide of Angelo Reyes, many of us are surely asking questions such as why? What does it achieve? For whose benefit?

Personally, I’m trying to find the lessons that can be learned from his life as well as his tragic death.

Whatever side you may be in battle, warriors will always honor those who die fighting. Whatever we may think of Angie Reyes, he did not cower or crumble. Even in death he denied his enemies victory and the pleasure of conquest.

I can almost imagine him murmuring the classic Invictus as he made his final charge:

“Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

 I am the captain of my soul.”

* * *

Ultimately whatever reason may have led him to take his own life, he made the choice and in so doing he was at least willing and man enough to pay the price.

In the words of warriors of old, “He, was a worthy opponent”.

May he rest in peace and may his family find comfort in their great loss.

* * *

It just occurred to me that the on-going probe on the corruption within the Armed Forces of the Philippines and allegations of impropriety among COA auditors goes far beyond Generals and accountants.

What should be, and really is on trial today is our ENTIRE Justice System.

Every lawyer who has bent the rules, told a white lie, every prosecutor who did not do his work well or allowed his bias to take over, every judge, justice and officer of the Courts, the Office of the Ombudsman as well as the branches of the Department of Justice is on trial.

While everyone talks about the controversial plea bargain with Major General Carlos Garcia, the underlying truth that many lawmakers and lawyers have casually revealed is that out ENTIRE Justice System is corrupted.

Sadly, the corruption has invaded the very core of our value system.

If “leaders” or professionals can no longer tell the difference between right or wrong, when officers of the court are caught in their own web of lies yet have the nerve to say they’re doing their job, if officers no longer act as gentlemen but as outright liars; there is something very wrong with our moral fabric.

When the very people who have the most to gain, choose to be silent and are afraid, it tells us that “justice” in the Philippines does not exist. “Justice” as my Dutch wife puts it must be predictable.

We must be aware of the laws, we must be aware of the consequences and punishment for breaking the laws and we must have reason to believe (predictability) that the law will be enforced and punishment will be rendered.

We as citizens must have reason to believe that we will benefit by obeying the laws individually or collectively.

We must be convinced without an iota of a doubt that when we perform our duties by observing the law or reporting a violation of the law, that the burden of proof as well as the punishment will be upon the law breaker and not the law abiding citizen.

We as citizens must have the confidence and the security that when we stand before any court whether of law or quasi-judicial, our rights and our dignity will be respected by any judge, justice or legislator.  

Ultimately a decision must be handed down, “Without fear or favor”.

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