Manila: Former Philippine defence secretary and armed forces chief of staff Angelo Reyes was accorded full military honours as he was laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (National Heroes Cemetery) at noon yesterday, six days after he fatally shot himself before his parents' grave.
Reyes, a retired four-star general, was given a 19-gun salute traditionally accorded to departed defence and military chiefs as his remains arrived at the cemetery. An air force helicopter dropped flowers as the cortege made its way to Reyes' final resting place.
Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin handed over the flag that draped Reyes' casket to his bereaved wife.
An honour guard squad delivered a 21-gun salute as the 65-year-old general's remains were finally laid to rest.
Saddest days
Dignitaries led by former president Gloria Arroyo witnessed the interment.
Gazmin, who represented the Philippine government, succeeded Reyes as commanding general of the Philippine Army in 1999 after he was appointed armed forces chief of staff by President Joseph Estrada. Reyes served in the Arroyo cabinet as secretary of defence, environment, interior and local government and energy.
"This is one of the saddest days in the military. Once upon a time, we were touched by this man," said Brigadier General Jose Mabanta, armed forces spokesman. By a strange twist of fate, it was a Senate investigation called by Estrada's son, Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, that tormented the former armed forces chief to the last of his days.
The Senate had been conducting an investigation into the alleged corruption in the armed forces involving its former officials when Reyes killed himself by his mother's grave using his own pistol. Retired Colonel George Rabusa exposed the alleged corruption within the military.
