Trillanes bares talks with Reyes camp on corruption
abs-cbnNEWS.com Posted at 02/10/2011 1:05 AM | Updated as of 02/10/2011 9:17 AM
MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday confirmed having received a letter from former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes regarding corruption issues in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
An unidentified emissary close to Reyes handed the letter to Trillanes last January 18.
Reyes’ letter was short,
asking Trillanes to identify the supposedly powerful person allegedly fronting for former Armed Forces comptroller Carlos Garcia, who has been accused with plundering military coffers.
However, more telling was Reyes’ messages to Trillanes, as relayed by the emissary.
“The emissary told me that
the late General Reyes told him that he admits there were transactions coming from upstairs… but he was firm in saying he did not take any money from those transactions facilitated by General Garcia,” the senator said.
At the time of the meeting, all eyes were on the Garcia plunder case and plea bargain agreement he has with the Ombudsman.
Former Armed Forces budget officer George Rabusa had yet to come out and link Reyes to the fund anomalies.
Through the emissary, Reyes asked Trillanes to clear his name with regard to Garcia's case, hinting there was someone else more powerful behind the former comptroller.
Trillanes, however, imposed a condition on his former military superior.
“I told him if that's the case, why don't you spill the beans on these people,” he said.
Trillanes said the emissary doubted that Reyes would blow the whistle on the supposed powerful personality behind Garcia.
The lawmaker admitted that he was not referring to Reyes when he first talked about Garcia's so-called principal.
He said Reyes could not have escaped accountability because as then defense secretary, Reyes reportedly allowed Garcia's alleged illegal transactions to take place.
A loving husband, father, grandfather
Reyes’ family, meanwhile, is in deep grief over the death of the former AFP chief of staff.
At the Columbary Ascension chapels on Araneta Ave., Quezon City, where the wake is being held, the former general’s children spoke for the first time about the death of their father.
They read a statement they issued to media on Tuesday night.
They said Reyes was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
“He is the nemesis of kidnappers, drug dealers, smugglers, and terrorists but is helpless as his granddaughter puts lipstick on him. He was a four star general, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the conqueror of Camp Abubakr, but not once has he thought twice about kissing his wife and sons in public,” the statement said.
“To us, his children, he is and forever will be, our idol. No amount of ridiculous rumors, intrigues, and accusations from the ignorant, the envious, and those who have nothing better to do than to cowardly criticize him, will ever change that.”
The family said Reyes will be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City. – Reports from Lynda Jumilla and Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News; ANC