Solon asks Senate to postpone 'pabaon' hearings

UPDATED 1:00 p.m. - Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. asked the Senate to postpone its hearings on the alleged corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines at least until former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes has been laid to rest. On Tuesday, the day he died, Reyes was supposed to testify before the House committee on justice on its inquiry on the plea bargain deal between the government and former military comptroller Carlos Garcia, who was accused of plunder. The probe was also supposed to discuss supposed "pabaon" (send-off money) allegedly received by members of the military upon retirement. However, Reyes died on Tuesday. He was visiting the tomb of his mother with his two sons. He reportedly asked his sons to proceed to their car. Suddenly, his sons saw him fall to the ground with a gunshot wound in his chest. It was not clear whether Reyes shot himself or if somebody shot him. However, cemetery workers claimed they saw Reyes pull out a gun and shoot himself. "Bilang mga Pilipino at Kristiyano, bigyang-galang muna natin si Secretary Reyes at ang kanyang pamilya. Hayaan muna natin sila sa panahong ito ng pagdadalamhati (As Filipinos and Christians, let's respect Sec. Reyes and his family. Let us give them time to grieve)," Revilla said in a statement issued on Tuesday. Pangilinan: Speed up hearings Meanwhile, Senator Francis Pangilinan said instead of taking his own life, Reyes should have just come out with the truth. "Death is not a graceful exit to such a distinguished officer as Secretary Reyes. A more honorable way would have been to come out with the truth and win back the admiration of his fellow soldiers," he said in a statement on Tuesday. Pangilinan likewise urged his colleagues to expedite the investigation on the irregularities within the military. "We should not let this incident deter our efforts in curbing pervasive corruption. In fact, this brings a degree of urgency to PNoy’s advocacy against corruption. For how many sad stories must our countrymen be subjected to before we see true justice being served? Justice cannot be served this way; not through trial by publicity, but by a strong justice system," he said. "Reyes is a victim of a corrupt system. If his death should have any meaning, it should lead to real reforms in the armed forces in particular, and the entire government bureaucracy in general," he added. Honasan: Inquiries should be moderated On Tuesday, Senator Gregorio Honasan said congressional probes should be moderated so that people who are embroiled in public scandals will not suffer the same fate as Reyes. "In the pursuit fo justice, we should also moderate the conduct of our inquiries, so we do not subject unnecessarily the persons involved to trial by publicity," Honasan told GMA News Online in a phone interview on Tuesday. He issued the statement after the 65-year-old Reyes reportedly shot himself early Tuesday at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City. The development came after former Armed Forces fund manager George Rabusa appeared before the Senate blue ribbon committtee and accused Reyes of receiving around P100 million during his stint as AFP chief of staff and not less than P50 million more as "pabaon" (send-off money) when he retired in 2001. During the same hearing, Reyes denied the allegation and accused Rabusa of smearing his reputation. He later on filed criminal and administrative charges against Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and former military fund manager George Rabusa for implicating him in the alleged corrupt practices in the Armed Forces. Wake up call? Honasan said the media, public, and lawmakers should understand the effect that congressional probes can have on a person. "This is sad. We condole with the family of Sec. Reyes. Maybe this could have been avoided," he said. "This would be a wakeup call for all of us who should moderate our disclosure of (these issues so) that the names, rights, and reputation (of those involved) are not prematurely subjected to trial by publicity," he added. He noted, however, that he is not saying that they should stop with their investigation of the alleged corruption in the military. "I believe we should continue with the investigations in aid of legislation," he said. He suggested that lawmakers can first conduct an executive session before their inquiries and then define the ground rules for the hearing so that there wouldn't be any unnecessary grilling of any person involved. Give family time to grieve Senator Francis Escudero, for his part, said there shouldn't be any talks as of the moment about the anymore investigations. "Sana'y bigyan nating lahat ng lugar at puwang ang kanyang pamilya na magdalamhati ng di hinahaluan ng anumang usaping pulitika (We should give his family space to grieve without mixing it with politics)," he told reporters in a text message on Monday. Escudero had earlier accused Reyes of resorting to "squid tactics" when he filed criminal and administrative charges against Rabusa and Estrada. Swift, just conclusion Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, said that Reyes' death can only "strengthen" their resolve to bring their investigation to "a swift, just and rightful conclusion." "We are confident that Secretary Reyes shares with all of us the aspiration to help shed light on AFP-related issues and help reform the institution," he said in a statement on Tuesday. He did not mention, however, whether they will postpone their scheduled hearing on the alleged AFP corruption next week. According to his staff , Guingona is currently out of the country. Reyes' death Reyes, born on March 17, 1945, 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, 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 is survived by his wife Teresita and his five sons, Pablo, Angelito, Marc, Carlo and Judd. – VVP, GMA News