Suicide Hero

The country was stunned last week when Former Defense Sec. Angelo Reyes apparently took his own life in front of his parent’s grave. Within an hour the suicide was all over the news and became a headline the next day.

For what greater story can there be, than a man who at his final days saw his name dragged to obscurity and ridicule. 65 years that was capped by allegations of corruption in the armed forces.

Not so surprising though. Think of any government agency here in our country that doesn’t reek of corruption. If everyone would have the same reaction after an allegation, I say accuse every official in every department. Maybe that will help the current administration uphold its slogan of “Kung walang corrupt walang mahirap” (If no one is corrupt, no one will be poor) and effectively rid its agencies of these bastards.

What’s even more bothering though is the angle that says it was heroic. I am not suggesting that Reyes was guilty or that he should be condemned forever. I am appalled with the thought that such an act can be considered an act of heroism. Col. Edgard De Leon believes that the Former AFP Chief of Staff took his own life to “save the AFP.” (from an article in Manila Bulletin, It was a valiant act, Aide says by Elena Aben) Another headline from the Philippine Star last February 9, has Fernando Martinez quoted as saying that what Reyes did was heroic.

Since when did committing suicide become a valiant act? In some cultures maybe, like in Japan where Harakiri or Seppuku (a ritual act of disembowelment) was practiced by samurais in honor of the Bushido code. Somehow the logic of it eludes me. Suicide to be tagged as an act of courage rather than a form of escapism defies all moral reasoning. Sure, it takes guts to point the gun to your chest and pull the trigger but that doesn't make it heroic.

If it is an act of courage, then I dare everyone in the AFP to take their guns out and start shooting each other or for every god damned government agency for that matter. What moral implication does this teach our children? That the end justifies the means because you can end it anyway.

If for anything, what his death meant for the public is that it showed how badly screwed up our government is. (Not a big news anymore) Assuming that he was innocent, Reyes himself showed no trust in our justice system.

Maybe it was heroic after all, if what it does is to free everyone from the stench of selfishness and greed that is perfectly embodied by our government. It was heroic, if what it does is to aid the investigation and eventually shell out the truth. Until then, I say he would have done his country a big favor had he faced the raps and spoke the truth instead of cowardly dimming the lights for a grand escape.

Also posted on http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/8197668-suicide-hero