Jinggoy says he's not to blame for Reyes' death

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Tuesday said he is not to blame for the death of former Defense chief Angelo Reyes, who died in an apparent suicide earlier in the day in front of his mother's grave in a cemetery in Marikina City. "I'm not guilty. I'm just doing my job," Estrada told reporters in an ambush interview. In a statement released by his office, Estrada said he and his family were saddened by Reyes' death and hoped that the former military chief's passing will bring the changes towards "deeper enlightenment and understanding our country so greatly deserves." "I will continue to endeavour to bring such changes through the on-going investigation in the Senate so that his death will find new meaning—that there is still honor left in the AFP," he said.

It was Estrada who brought former military budget officer Lt. Col. George Rabusa to the Senate investigation and accused Reyes of receiving around P100 million during his stint as AFP chief and not less than P50 million more as "pabaon" (send-off money) when he retired in March 2001. Reyes denied the allegation and accused Rabusa of smearing his reputation. Reyes then filed criminal and administrative charges against Estrada and Rabusa before the Office of the Ombudsman for supposedly causing "undue injury... through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence" under Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. He likewise asked Estrada and Senators Francis Escudero, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Miriam Defensor-Santiago to inhibit themselves from participating in the Senate inquiries because they have "lost their cold neutrality." All refused to inhibit themselves from the probe. In aid of legislation Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, meanwhile, maintained that the Senate has the right to conduct an investigation in aid of legislation "to perform the work for the people and the nation." "We are doing a duty, and anyone who is hailed in this Senate to answer questions must be prepared to defend himself. Of course we will not tolerate any act that will demean or inflict indignities to a member of the public who will appear before us," Enrile said in a separate interview on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, Estrada said he will personally request the blue ribbon and justice committees to suspend the hearings indefinitely or until Reyes' wake is over. Blue ribbon committee chairman Senator Teofisto Guingona III, however, said they willl resume their probe on Friday next week. — RSJ, GMANews.TV