Senators suspend inquiry into military fund scam

By Maila Ager
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:49:00 02/08/2011

Filed Under: Graft & Corruption, Congress, Military, Obituary, death notices

MANILA, Philippines – Senators have agreed to suspend the Senate hearings into the alleged corruption in the military in the wake of the death of former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes.

Reyes committed suicide this Tuesday morning amid allegations that he received
millions of pesos when he retired as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“The consensus is to defer the hearings in the Senate,” said Sotto in a text message to reporters.

Sotto said those who agreed with the suspension of the hearing were Senate
President Juan Ponce-Enrile, Senators Francis Escudero, Jose "Jinggoy"
Estrada, and Gregorio Honasan.

Escudero confirmed this, in a separate text message to reporters.

"In deference to and given the untimely demise of Secretary Reyes who once served as a soldier and co-worker in government as co-chair of the Senate Committees conducting the inquiry given that Senator Guingona is presently out of the country, I am deferring the hearings of the Senate on the plea bargain of Garcia for a week," he said, referring to former military comptroller, General Carlos Garcia, who is facing plunder charges for allegedly amassing illegal wealth.

Guingona is Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, investigating the controversy.

"This would also enable all of us to take stock and gain perspective of recent events and the steps we should take in the weeks and months ahead with only the best interests of our country and people, as well as the men and women in uniform in the AFP, in mind," Escudero added.

The hearing by the committee being was set to resume on Thursday next week.

Guingona could not be reached by reporters for comment but in a statement, he joined his colleagues in condoling with the family of Reyes.

"The news of former Secretary Angelo Reyes’ untimely death has come to us as a shock. We share the pain of the Reyes family in this time of great loss. We condole with them and assure them of our prayers," he said.

It was unfortunate, Guingona said, that that their last interface with the late Secretary should be under "difficult circumstances.

"However, Secretary Reyes’ untimely death can only further strengthen our
resolve to bring the current probe on issues hounding the Armed Forces of the Philippines to a swift, just and rightful conclusion. We are confident thatSecretary Reyes shares with all of us the aspiration to help shed light on AFP-related issues and help reform the institution," he further said