Arroyo mourns Reyes' death, calls him a patriot

Former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whom Angelo Reyes helped catapult to Malacañang in 2001, on Tuesday urged Filipinos to recognize Reyes’ "patriotic" service as a soldier and government official. "He served the country well in uniform and in the halls of government, particularly in a critical moment in our history when our people called for radical reform of governance," Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement issued through her spokesperson, Maria Elena Bautista-Horn. Mrs. Arroyo said she was saddened by Reyes’ "tragic" death. She praised him for his "courage and patriotic service" and appealed to Filipinos to pray for the eternal repose of his soul. Reyes held several government positions during the nine-year Arroyo administration — as head of the Department of National Defense (2001 to 2003), Department of Interior and Local Government (2004 to 2006), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (2006 to 2007), and Department of Energy (2007 to 2010).

On Tuesday morning, Reyes was rushed to the Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City due to a single gunshot wound — believed to be self-inflicted — in the chest. He was pronounced dead at 8:32 a.m. Reyes was instrumental in Mrs. Arroyo’s rise to the presidency. In January 2001, Reyes, then Armed Forces chief, led the military hierarchy in withdrawing its support from then President Joseph Estrada and supported a popular mass uprising. Estrada was subsequently forced to leave Malacañang that paved for then Vice President Arroyo to assume the presidency. In the May 2010 elections, Reyes sought a congressional seat under the party-list system, running as the first nominee of the 1-UTAK party-list group. The group, however, decided to withdraw Reyes' nomination after it was questioned by militant organizations. Prior to his death, Reyes was accused of receiving about P100 million during his stint as Armed Forces chief, including P50 million as “pabaon" (send-off money) when he bowed out of service. He denied the allegations. — Andreo Calonzo/KBK/RSJ, GMA News