Reyes family to media: Respect our privacy

The family of the late military chief Angelo Reyes on Tuesday appealed to the media and the public to respect their privacy while they are grieving the death of their loved one. Speaking to reporters waiting outside the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) in Quezon City, a family spokesperson requested that they [family members] be left alone at this time. "Parang awa niyo na po, umalis na po muna kayo bilang respeto na po muna sa pamilya niya [We beg you, please stay away to give respect to the grieving family]," GMA Flash Report quoted Patricia Daza as saying. "Lahat po kami nagulat. We just don't want to turn this into a circus. So please lang kung puwede pahingahin natin ang pamilya," she said. Daza insisted that none of Reyes' relatives would be entertaining any media interviews. "Gusto nila magluksa. Ayaw talaga muna nila humarap sa media." Daza also asked the reporters staking out at the hospital to instead proceed to the Reyes' residence, where other reporters are waiting. "Mayroon na din namang media doon sa bahay nila," she said. Suicide? Reyes allegedly shot himself in the chest while visiting his parents' tomb at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City. Recovered from the scene were an empty shell of a cal.-45 pistol and a copy of "Trump: The Art of the Deal," a book by American business magnate Donald Trump – supposedly one of Reyes' favorite authors.

A maintenance supervisor at the memorial park executed a two-page sworn statement detailing how he saw Reyes shoot himself. In his account, Feliciano Recorba said he saw Reyes at the memorial park around 7:45 a.m. with members of his family, a driver, and a bodyguard. Soon after, everyone went back to their vehicle except for Reyes, who kept moving back and forth near his parents' grave. He then saw the retired general draw a gun and shoot himself on the left side of his body. "Kitang-kita kong nagbaril siya sa kanyang sarili dahil mga 20 hakbang lang ang layo ko sa kanya," he said. Recorba said he had spotted Reyes at the cemetery as early as Monday night. Reyes' remains A report by dzBB Allan Gatus said Reyes' remains were brought to the Arlington Memorial Chapel along Araneta Avenue in Quezon City before noon Tuesday, from the QMMC where he was declared dead. Security was tight at the memorial chapel, with security personnel blocking the entrance. He was a key official of the Arroyo administration, serving several government positions as Armed Forces chief of staff and as secretary of Defense, Interior, Environment and Energy. He was embroiled in alleged corruption scandal when retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa testified that he received P50 million in "pabaon" (sendoff gift) when he retired from the military service. — LBG/RSJ, GMA News