NR1014:Hold Angie Reyes' appointment

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 14 , 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
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Like ex-comptroller Garcia, DILG secretary Reyes should be questioned for his
shocking wealth; Reyes appointment should be put on immediate hold - Rep.
Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that Department of Interior
and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes' appointment should be put on the
backburner if not completely turned down in the wake of the shocking reports
that he has accumulated assets worth P18M. Beltran said that Reyes has
previously been accused of corruption, but none of the accusations have been
thoroughly investigated because he was a Malacanang favorite. He said that even
as Congress in investigating former AFP comptroller Carlos Garcia, Reyes should
also be sworn in and questioned.

"He should be asked quite bluntly: how is it that military men make so much
money and where does the money come from?"

"Perhaps now Malacanang would reconsider re-appointing Reyes to another
sensitive post. He's one of the most recycled government officials and at the
same time one of the most vilified - and with basis," he said. He added that
it does come as a shock the way Reyes has managed to accumulate all that wealth
in the last two years when it's well-known that he has mainly been a government
official. "Now he ranks with the likes of Winston Garcia of the Government
Service Insurance System (GSIS) and other heads of
government-owned-and-controlled operations (GOCCSs) who are supposedly
government officials but with private-sector salaries," he said.

The veteran labor leader pointed out President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should
put more meat into her words that she wants to overthrow corruption in her
government by removing officials who are already tainted with corruption. He
said that the President has already 'recycled' Reyes from being secretary of
defense, to head of the national disaster coordinating council, and now she's
made him DILG chief.

"Clearly, like Winston Garcia, Reyes is a favorite with the President, although
in the case of Reyes it's not very clear yet as to why the President sees him an
indispensable. Reyes has been accused of masterminding the series of bombing
attacks in Davao and Mindanao, apart from being tagged as a ringleader of
corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Now there are
documents that could lead the way to unearthing the truth about Reyes and his
corruption. The question is, will Malacanang protect Reyes once more and
dismiss the allegations?"

In the meantime, Beltran also said that for a moment he could pretend that Reyes
was not guilty of accumulating ill-gotten wealth. "And since he's wealthy enough
- a regular multi-millionaire - then he shouldn't stay in public service and
leave the government bureaucracy once and for all. It's highly suspicious that
someone as wealthy like Reyes should want to remain in government when he is
already making millions. Unless the real reason for continuing in government is
precisely to make more millions, protect his wealth, and cover-up whatever
illegal schemes or means he is using to amass those millions," he said. #