Reyes lost his chance to prove his innocence

POST-MORTEM: “The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones.”

So said Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) in an emotional speech after the assassination of the military commander and tyrant Julius Caesar by Brutus and his cohorts in the Roman Senate.

Those words echo from the play “Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare as our own politicians and the rest of us react to Gen. Angelo Tomas Reyes’ taking his life as he knelt at the grave of his mother last Tuesday.

While Antony sounded like he was conceding that the sins of the fallen leader would linger in the mind longer than his achievements for Rome, his statement had an ironic ring to it. After the confusion simmered down, a sector soon hailed Caesar for his achievements.

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VILE VAPOR: The public that had followed on national TV the congressional inquiry on Reyes and other top brass accused of pocketing millions from armed forces funds is still divided as to whether “the evil that men do lives after them.”

But in our forgiving society, the good is not entirely interred with the bones. Witness the post-mortem unearthing — alongside revelations on fund conversion and diversion — of the more positive aspects of the career of Reyes.

Hearing it from his mistahs (of Philippine Military Academy Class 66), Reyes’ death “saved” their alma mater if not the entire military establishment from further damage. To them, their comrade gave his life in the name of courage, loyalty and integrity.

To them, Reyes absorbed all the vile accusations against the military and then vaporized them when he snuffed out his life with a single shot.

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BANTAY SALAKAY?: Not everybody, however, would agree. While a few may welcome a momentary pause in the investigation, the bigger majority tired of government corruption would want to see through the cleansing process.

I share the view that Reyes’ death will not, and should not, put sudden closure to the revolting revelations of how millions had been routinely stolen by the Caesars of the armed service.

It is ironic that the Armed Forces is enshrined in the Declaration of Principles in the Constitution (Article II, Section 3) as the “protector of the people and the State.” Witness the massive thievery at the top echelons!

While we condole with the family of the general, we should not allow his death — or that of others who might follow his violent exit — to cut short the investigation and the prosecution of the guilty parties.

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CONGRESS PROBE: Despite its being abused, the congressional inquiry into military corruption must continue in aid of legislation. But it should first regain its focus, which is the plea bargain sought by Gen. Carlos F. Garcia, the former AFP comptroller shaking off plunder charges.

The House of Representatives has terminated its inquiry with a resolution urging the Ombudsman to recall the plea bargain deal struck with the Sandiganbayan, assuming something could still be done about it.

In the Senate, the chamber’s leadership is minded to proceed with its own inquiry as a matter of duty. But we wish the more impulsive senators would treat guests/witnesses not as accused in a criminal investigation but as resource persons.

One wonders how congressmen and senators would conduct themselves if the TV cameras were withdrawn from the committee hearings.

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WHERE’S PROOF?: With Reyes’ death, we have lost information on: (1) the extent of his involvement, if any, in the alleged anomalies and (2) his thoughts before he pulled the trigger.

As vital witnesses vanish, we fall back on verified documents to recreate the web of high-level conspiracy that had sapped not only the millions meant for the foot soldiers but also the vitality of our fighting force.

My impression is that until this day, much of what retired Col. George Rabusa, a former AFP budget officer, has alleged under oath is nothing but declarations.

His statements must be supported by evidentiary documents. It looks like the documents needed to build an air-tight case have not been gathered and organized. I would not even discount the possibility that many of them have been destroyed.

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ADMISSION OF GUILT: Why did Reyes commit suicide? Was it right for him to have ended it all in that violent manner?

We usually judge the act against our common culture. A bishop was quoted as saying that Reyes committed a grievous sin when he killed himself. Such view springs from the doctrine that we do not own our lives, but owe them to God the creator.

But taking one’s life is a personal matter. It would be risky, and possibly unfair, for the rest of us to judge the suicide.

It is not fair, for instance, to also ask if his suicide was an admission of guilt. In answering this, it is every man to his own opinion.

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IF INNOCENT: I will not attempt an answer. But if I were the one accused in the manner Reyes was persecuted (he was not yet being prosecuted), I would not commit suicide.

If indeed I were innocent, the more reason I should stay alive and strong to be able to fight back against the withering fire of my detractors.

I would hold on to the divine promise that the truth shall set me free. Committing suicide will rob me and my family forever the chance to prove my innocence.

But Reyes was cornered? The more reason he should have steeled himself and fought back with all the means at his command.

That is, if he were innocent, and if he were me.

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