From Hello Angie to Hero Angie?

I got your back, Ma'am

For whatever his reason might be, Angelo Reyes' suicide should not make him a hero. He was a hero alright in his stint in the military For that alone he should be buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani. But please don't make him a hero for stalling the corruption investigations.

Those playing the sympathy card now in the light of the corruption investigations are doing the nation a disservice. Reyes deserved his day in court, they say. But he didn't want it. He didn't want to be investigated. In fact, he tried to stop the investigation by filing charges against the senators. He was asked to attend another hearing on that fateful date. But he begged off, only to take his own life.

When accused of receiving pabaon (send off money), all he could say to his accuser was "Ako ba'y naging ganid? Ako ba ay suwapang?", as if reminding his accuser that he shared the loot generously. That to many is a tacit admission.

If the investigations stop, his death makes him a hero only to the masterminds and beneficiaries of the corrupt system. Ironically, he will be a true hero if we ferret out the truth and cleanse the entire system in the course of the investigation and the ensuing legislation. I don't have problems with that.