MANILA, Philippines - A former rebel soldier said on Saturday that the death of former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes should not stop the investigations on corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Dapat ituloy ang mga investigation dahil may mga statements na puwede sigurong gamitin para mag-file ng kaso. Dapat mabilis na mag-file ng kaso para makita na may aksyon ang gobyerno (The investigations should continue because there are already statements that can be used as basis to file case. Cases should be filed as soon as possible for the government to prove that is doing something),” retired Marine Col. Ariel Querubin told radio dzMM.

Querubin said he is saddened by the death of Reyes, which, he said, was untimely because the people, especially the soldiers, have yet to find out the whole truth about corruption in the military.

He said several soldiers have been sending him text messages and calls, calling for the investigations to push through.

Aside from the probes being conducted by both houses of Congress, the AFP leadership has also started its own investigation.

The Department of Justice is also poised to conduct its own probe to determine the liability of military and government officials involved.

“Talagang iyan ang gusto ng mga sundalo ngayon, na malaman kung sino ba dapat ang managot (That is what the soldiers want, to know who are liable),” he added.

'Don't hide the truth'

The group Pagbabago! People’s Movement for Change is also urging the Senate to continue its inquiry into the revelations of former military budget officer George Rabusa, who implicated Reyes and 2 other former military chiefs in various anomalies.

“Huwag sanang matakpan ng pagkamatay ni General Reyes ang katotohanan. That should not be the reason for stopping the Senate inquiry about military corruption and eventually prosecuting those who are ultimately responsible,” Dizon said at a forum about military corruption at De La Salle University-College of St. Benilde, where Rabusa was the main speaker.

Dizon said he believes that Rabusa is a “credible witness,” and people should help him prove his allegations.

The Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO) also issued a statement on Friday urging the government to continue the investigations.

The FSGO said Reyes' suicide after he was implicated in military corruption will be without honor if it has no impact on the welfare of the nation, the AFP and the government.

It added that: "If, on the other hand, his death inspires our leaders to finally clean up the corrupt system in the military that ensnared him, he might yet be the last soldier to die in our people’s war against corruption."

Soldiers in the field

Querubin said that there seems to be a “deliberate effort” to divert the real issue of military corruption following Reyes’s death.

He said that the unexpected suicide has overshadowed the deaths of soldiers in the field.

Querubin clarified that there is a growing sentiment among soldiers in the field that their fallen comrades should be the ones honored.

He said some of his men fought with him side-by-side in Mindanao during the all-out war against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the hunt for slain Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya in Basilan.

“Sentiments ng mga nasa field iyan, ng mga taong naapektuhan ng corruption,” he said.

Querubin said that when Rabusa came out, their suspicions that they were issued sub-standard equipage because of the corruption at the AFP’s general headquarters were proven.

“Parang pinapaano nila ang simpatya sa pagkamatay ni Secretary Reyes, eh na-o-overshadow ang mga ginawa ng mga sundalo (They are courting sympathy for Reyes, which is overshadowing the achievements of our soldiers on the field). They're not given the same honors,” he said. – with a report from Niña Corpuz, ABS-CBN News; dzMM