BROADSHEETS

PHIL. DAILY INQUIRER -- Reyes Heard Saying Sorry

MANILA BULLETIN -- Reyes Takes Own Life

PHILIPPINE STAR -- Reyes Kills Self

MANILA STANDARD -- Reyes, Edsa II Hero, Commits Suicide By His Mother’s Grave

MANILA TIMES -- Reyes Death Shocks Nation

MALAYA -- Angie Reyes Kills Self In Front Of Parents Graves

DAILY TRIBUNE -- Angie Says ‘Sorry,’ Kills Self

TABLOIDS

PEOPLE’S JOURNAL -- Reyes Kills Self

ABANTE -- Suicide

PILIPINO STAR NGAYON -- Reyes Nag-Suicide

BALITA -- Sa Piling Ng Ina

BULGAR -- Sec. Reyes, Ayaw Manlaglag

 

ISSUES MONITORING

On Congress

The Senate has suspended its inquiry into military corruption for a week, following the death of former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, one of those linked to the alleged customary payoffs in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) but the House hearing, which had a schedule yesterday went on, after the majority voted to go on with the probe. But senators said they will remain steadfast in their efforts to uncover more anomalies in the military in a bid to introduce reforms in the AFP. The hearing will resume on Friday next week. (Tribune-p1 

Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada does not feel responsible for the death of former defense secretary Angelo Reyes. “I am not guilty,” Estrada answered when asked if he felt responsible. But Estrada said he and his family were saddened by the death of Reyes, who served as Armed Forces chief under his father, former President Joseph Estrada. (Philstar-p1) 

Lawmakers yesterday urged Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to withdraw the controversial plea bargain agreement between former military comptroller Carlos Garcia and government prosecutors. The lawmakers made the collective call on Gutierrez as the House committee on justice yesterday terminated its investigation into the alleged massive corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Garcia’s plea bargaining agreement. (Philstar-p1) AFP Mess

Backers of the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill expressed dismay yesterday that President Aquino has decided against giving priority to the bill in Congress this year. Ramon San Pascual, Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development Foundation Inc. executive director, said the RH Bill’s exclusion from priority bills was unexpected at a time when Filipino women, families, and parents had high hopes for Aquino to carry out a national policy in support of his pledge for responsible parenthood. (Philstar-p8) 

On Presidency

President Aquino yesterday said he will announce changes in the Cabinet by next week. The President, in an ambush interview at the medical-dental mission sponsored by the Office of the President at the Chino Roces Bridge to mark his 51st birthday, declined to give details on who will be affected. "Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr will be in the better position to tell you the exact date," he said.  (Malaya-p4) 

The Aquino administration continues to enjoy a “very good” net satisfaction rating of 64 in the latest survey done by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). The SWS poll, conducted from Nov. 27 to 30 last year, showed 74 percent of 1, 200 respondents saying they were satisfied with the government’s general performance against 10 percent who were dissatisfied. SWS said the administration’s latest score was unchanged from its September 2010 rating. (Philstar-p3) 

President Benigno Aquino 3rd on Tuesday said he personally asked whistleblower HeidiMendoza, a former state auditor, to join his administration. President Aquino said he talked to Mendoza over the phone Monday night and asked her if she would want to work under his administration. “She gave us some of her parameters and she’s thinking about whether or not to join government again,” the President said during a chance interview. Aware of Mendoza’s situation, the Mr. Aquino said that he asked the former Commission on Audit (COA) employee to think about his offer. (Mla Times-p3) 

On Sec Angelo Reyes

Angelo Reyes was seen sitting on a monobloc chair in front of his parents’ graves at Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City early yesterday and reading Donald Trump’s “The Art of the Deal.” The book, a biography of the American business mogul who owns pricey real estate, casinos and hotels across the world, was later found by scene-of-the-crime police operatives next to a slug of a .45 cal. pistol that he apparently used to take his life. (PDI-Banner) 

“Everything I do, I do for my mother,” Angelo Tomas Reyes, who, at various points in his life, was Armed Forces Chief of Staff and holder of the defense, environment, interior and energy portfolios, said in one of his last interviews with the Inquirer. In an interview and subsequent phone conversations days before his tragic end, Reyes was always upset, his voice raspy as he talked about what he called “a smear campaign” against him and how it had taken a toll on his wife Teresita, and their sons Pablo, Angelito, Marc, Carlo and Judd. (PDI-p1) 

In the end, Angelo Reyes had nowhere to turn to except the woman he loved all his life. Reyes left no explanation and his mother Purificacion’s bloodstained grave marker could not provide answers. But Reyes’ decision to end it all before her could give a glimpse into what remained important to the former Cabinet secretary and chief of staff of the Armed Forces in his final moments. It is known in military circles that Reyes was very close to his mother who died on Jan. 23, 2006, at the age of 95. Reyes’ devotion to his “Mamang” was legendary. (PDI-p1) 

On The Armed Forces

Calls for the abolition of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) are mounting even as the institution gets ready to celebrate its foundation day over the weekend here. Reviving a call by Surigao del Sur Rep. Philip Pichay last November to divide the military institution into major command academies, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro Casiño is calling for a review of Asia’s premier military academy. (Philstar-p1) 

On Poverty

Only two out of 1,000 Filipino families were lifted out of poverty between 2006 and 2009, according to a National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) survey released yesterday. The NSCB report showed a slight reduction in the poverty rate from 21.1 percent in 2006 to 20.9 percent in 2009.  While there was a decrease in the general poverty rate from 2006 to 2009, in terms of poverty incidence among population there was a very slight increase from 26.4 percent in 2006 to 26.5 percent in 2009, the NSCB said. (Philstar-p2) 

On The Supreme Court

Does the arrest warrant issued by a Manila trial court against fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson for the November 2000 killings of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito stand despite a ruling of the Court of Appeals saying otherwise? The Supreme Court (SC) has opted to remain silent on this legal controversy that has caused conflict between Lacson and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. “It is very difficult to comment on that because that issue could be raised for resolution of the Court,” SC spokesman Midas Marquez told a press conference. (Philstar-p5) 

The Supreme Court (SC) upheld with finality yesterday the conviction of five men found guilty of killing Rolando Abadilla, former chief of the defunct police Metropolitan Command Intelligence and Security Group, in 1996. Voting 9-4 with two justices taking no part, the High Court junked a motion seeking the reversal of its September 2010 ruling affirming the Court of Appeals (CA) decision on April 1, 2009 that lowered the sentence from death penalty to life imprisonment on the men dubbed as “Abadilla Five” – Senior Police Officers 2 Cesar Fortuna, Rameses de Jesus Calma, Leonardo Lumanog, Joel de Jesus and Augusto Santos. (Philstar-p19)

On Foreign Relations

he Taiwanese government recalled its representative to the Philippines over the “inappropriate” deportation of 14 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China last Feb. 2, an article in the China Post said yesterday. The decision of the Taiwanese government to recall Donald Lee, their envoy in Manila, came after the Philippine government allegedly ignored their request to send the 14 arrested suspects to Taiwan and instead deported them to the mainland. (Philstar-p1)