Reyes's family opens wake to public

MANILA (Updated 4:48 p.m.) -- The family of former Defense secretary Angelo Reyes has reconsidered their position barring critics of the late general from his wake.

Marc Reyes, son of the former Defense chief, told reporters Thursday that the family has decided to open his father's wake.

"Nobody will benefit from being divisive," he said. "I think the message of my dad was there are things in our system that must be changed."

Saying they had not been brought up to be rude, they will welcome visitors, but Marc hoped those who come to the Arlington Memorial Chapels in Quezon City are sincere.

Patricia Daza, the late secretary's former spokesperson, told reporters Tuesday that Reyes's critics should not bother to come because they would be turned away.

She mentioned party-list group 1-Utak, who nominated Reyes to represent it at the House of Representatives but dropped him following a disqualification case preventing him from taking his seat.

Daza also banned those who "maligned and belittled" Reyes and military officers who accused him of corruption.

But Marc appealed Thursday for understanding, saying the family at that time was still grieving and in state of shock.

"The wake of Angelo Tomas Reyes will now be open to everybody," he said.

Reyes is scheduled to be accorded with military honors at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) General Headquarters in Quezon City at 10 a.m. Friday.

It is a military tradition to provide funeral honors to members of the AFP as a ceremonial paying of respect and its final demonstration of the country's gratitude to the unselfish service rendered by these individuals to the nation.

Lieutenant Colonel Arnulfo Burgos Jr., AFP public affairs chief, said Reyes's remains will be brought from the Arlington Chapel in Quezon City to the Camp Aquinaldo Friday. His wake will be at the Saint Ignatius Cathedral.

A eulogy by the Harvard Society will be initiated at 5 p.m.

On Saturday, February 12, a necrological service will be held as the remains of Reyes will be transferred at sunset to the Canopy area in front of the main General Headquarters building. This will be followed by a mass at 6 p.m.

The final mass for the late general will be held at 8 a.m. of Sunday, February 13, at the Canopy. It will be followed by the Departure Honors at the General Headquarters flagpole.

The escort is expected to arrive at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani in Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City at 11 a.m. where Reyes will be buried.

One saluting battery of cannons will offer the traditional 19-gun salute, a military tradition of honoring a former secretary of National Defense and former chief of staff, together with a Brigade-sized Honor Guard comprised of troops from the General Headquarters, the Philippine Army, Air Force, and the Navy for the arrival honors.

The Philippine Air Force, on the other hand, will provide flower petal drops during the procession before the remains of Reyes is laid down to its final resting place where another set of 21-gun salute will be heard.

"The Armed Forces of the Philippines joins the family of the late General Reyes in mourning for the death of a national leader, indeed one of the finest soldiers to have led the AFP. The AFP shall provide honors to the late General Reyes, an honor befitting a former secretary of National Defense, chief of staff of AFP, and a soldier," said AFP chief of staff Gene Ricardo David Jr. (Jonathan de Santos/VR/Sunnex)