MANILA, Philippines – Officials of partylist group 1-UTAK said Wednesday that they did not aim to disrespect former Armed Forces chief and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes when he was removed as one of its congressional bets in the last elections.

Melencio "Boy" Vargas, president of the transport group, said they were also stunned by Reyes’ death.

"Marami syang nagawa para sa amin kaya kahit ako ay na-shock sa nangyari," said 1-UTAK official Zenaida Maranan. "Masakit na ganon ang ginawa nya."

Reyes would have been a congressman today but the party-list group removed him as its first nominee.

Officials of 1-UTAK claimed that the disqualification case filed against Reyes resulted in his removal.

"Gusto lang namin makaupo na ang aming grupo. Sa pamilya ni Secretary Reyes, wala po kaming problema sa kanya pero dahil may disqualification case siya," said party board member Orlando Marquez. 

The family of Reyes earlier said they will not welcome the party-list’s officials and members in his wake.

"Nanalo pero hindi nakaupo, sama-sama nang frustration yan. The family lalo na yung misis, they felt betrayed by everybody," said Reyes’ lawyer, Atty. Bonefacio Alentajan.

The Supereme Court has yet to rule on Reyes’ case. – Report from Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News