The final words of Angelo Reyes

Tomorrow, Angelo T. Reyes will be laid to rest, the circumstances of both his death and life a big puzzle to many of our people.

One of the heroes of the EDSA People Power II revolt, Reyes met with a reversal of fortune in recent days when he was suddenly singled out as “a face of corruption in the AFP.”

In the last fortnight at the Senate, a whistleblower and former officer had accused Reyes of receiving millions of pesos in “slush fund” and “send-off” money as AFP chief. Last Feb. 8, Reyes put a gun to his heart and shot himself. He had wanted to confront his accusers but he was denied that chance.

Four days before his death, Reyes had asked a close associate to tell the PCIJ that he wanted to be interviewed by “an independent journalist” on the allegations that had stained his name and honor.

The PCIJ agreed but also requested a few premises for a good interview – no-holds-barred, Reyes does not waste time denying things, and Reyes deals with the difficult questions. He consulted his sons and they supported the idea.

On Sunday, Feb. 6, Reyes and his associate prepared for the interview, with the latter jotting down Reyes’s words and thoughts, verbatim. These were the main points, the associate said, that Reyes had wanted to highlight in the interview with the PCIJ.

That evening, Reyes asked his associate to confirm the interview, but later changed his mind thrice about doing it.

On Tuesday, Feb. 8, the associate gave the PCIJ his copious notes from his pre-interview discussion with Reyes – a minute of voice clip and three pages of what the associate said Reyes might have intended to serve as “a final statement.”

With appropriate courtesy and clearance from his widow and sons, the PCIJ has decided to let Reyes tell his story, in his own words. The discussion notes are rough and still unpolished in some parts, and somewhat incomplete. But they are Reyes’s words and thoughts, as of Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, two days before he died.