Enrile: We owe it to Angie to finish AFP probe

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Wednesday said that he wants to continue with the Senate inquiry on alleged corruption among the top brass of the Armed Forces of the Philippines until it is finished, if only for the sake of the late Defense secretary Angelo Reyes. "Namatay na si Angie Reyes, huwag natin sayangin yung buhay niya, tapusin natin itong kaso na ito [Angie Reyes is dead, let's not waste his death, let's finish this case]. We owe it to him to finish it, either way," Enrile told reporters on Wednesday.
Last week, Reyes shot himself in front of his mother’s grave at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City in the midst of his being pulled into a Senate inquiry on the alleged AFP fund mess. (See: Ex-AFP chief Angelo Reyes kills self before ma’s grave) Former military fund manager George Rabusa had earlier appeared before the Senate blue ribbon committee 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. (See: Witness: Ex-AFP chief Angelo Reyes got P50-M 'pabaon') Enrile explained said that the Senate must continue with its investigation despite the shocking death of Reyes. "You cannot stop midway simply because there was a serious event that happened," he said. Aside from the sendoff money, Rabusa also revealed the existence of a P20-million cash fund left with the current AFP fund manager which is supposedly meant for operational or personal use of the AFP chief of staff up and his deputy chiefs. "I would not take of the revelations of Rabusa lightly... there is reason to believe that he knows something," said Enrile. In a statement issued earlier in the day, Sen. Panfilo Lacson likewise revealed that a similar corrupt practice allegedly exists within the Philippine National Police (PNP), which Enrile said is another reason they should finish their inquiry as soon as possible. (See: Lacson bares ‘pabaon’ system in PNP) "Mind you the issue is corruption. Every election, the issue of corruption comes out. Every administration, the issue of corruption comes out. Now again, the issue of corruption is out. It is better that we finish this," he said. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, however, said she expects the probe to last a little longer. "Maraming pupuntahan iyon [It can branch out into many directions]," she said in a separate interview. The Senate blue ribbon committee is expected to resume its inquiry on the alleged corruption in the AFP on Friday.—Kimberly Jane T. Tan/JV, GMA News