House panel pushes through with hearing despite Reyes' death

UPDATED 1:10 p.m. - The House committee on justice, where ex-Armed Forces chief Angelo Reyes was supposed to testify on Tuesday, pushed through with its hearing despite the death of Reyes. In a 16-5 vote on Tuesday, the House committee on justice dismissed Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez Jr.'s motion to adjourn the hearing because of Reyes’ death. Health Secretary Enrique Ona said Reyes was declared dead on arrival at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday. However, doctors still tried to revive him and Ona said Reyes' official time of death was 8:32 a.m. on February 8, which happens to be the birthday of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. It was not clear whether Reyes shot himself or if somebody shot him. Reyes sustained a gunshot wound in his chest at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City where he visited the tomb of his mother. Reyes begged off from inquiry Reyes was supposed to testify before the inquiry of the House committee on the plea bargain deal entered into by the government and former military comptroller Carlos Garcia, but begged off from the hearing before his death, saying he is “not privy" to the agreement. “I have nothing to do with and have no involvement in the plea bargain agreement," he said in a letter sent to House justice committee chairperson Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas on Monday night. The former Armed Forces chief likewise said in his letter that there is “nothing" he can contribute to the investigation on the controversial deal. The probe, which is ongoing as of posting time, was also supposed to discuss supposed pay-offs received by members of the military upon retirement. Two weeks ago, former military financial officer George Rabusa accused Reyes of receiving P50 million from military funds when he retired as military chief. Mixed reactions Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas IV walked out of the room where the inquiry was being held after the motion to defer the hearing was junked by a majority of the committee. “Wala nang mangyayari diyan. That was a Christian motion. The fact is he [Reyes] died. Panoorin niyo na lang ‘yung circus diyan," he told reporters after walking out of the room. Paranaque Rep. Roilo Golez, who earlier criticized Reyes in a privilege speech that triggered the investigation, meanwhile said it would have been better if the former military chief aired his side before the House panel. “Ngayon wala na, hindi na masasagot ‘yan, unless meron ibang evidence," he said during the inquiry. Deputy Speaker Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III likewise expressed regret over Reyes' death. Tañada lamented that the former Armed Forces head may become a "convenient fall guy" for those implicated in the investigation on the supposed corruption in the military. "What would, for example, a general, who is under investigation to tag him as the recipient of funneled funds, confident that the person being named will no longer be around to make a rebuttal," he said in a separate statement. Cavite Rep. Crispin Remulla, for his part, issued a resolution expressing condolences to Reyes’ family, which was unanimously approved by the House panel. – VVP, GMA News