Response of former Undersecretary de los Reyes to allegations against him posted in this blog:
After all the responses,let us not forget that what really matters is pursuing the investigation of the two DND officials.nevertheless,below are my comments/corrections on some of the responses.
1.On my naval career, I earned my Navy Command at Sea Badge in 1984,after successful command of three patrol vessels.(I never sold diesel fuel while aboard ship as suspected by ‘malibog.’) I earned my senior command badge as commander task force(tf)61,the impression that i was prematuredly relieved from TF61 is not correct because my stint there lasted for 18 months from March 1997 to October 1998. For that period, TF 61 was awarded two chief of staff streamers and I received Cavalier Award in 2000 for outstanding performance in naval operations,one distinguished Navy Cross, and three military merit medals.
2. On the term “Mr Clean”- it came out in the papers during the stint of Secretary Cruz. I do not know the exact definition of the term but i am certain that it was not meant to be synonymous to angel,saint, or sinless. I am not Jesus Christ.however,people might be aware or might have heard any/some/all of the items below.
a. I do not ask for nor received money/bribe/sexual favors from dealers.
b. I have lived a simple life.Think of the savings for 43 years by not smoking;no night spot visits;no gambling;no excessive drinking;no number 2,no kids out of wedlock. From 1976 to 2002,we lived with my parents-in-law. The Navy could not provide us living quarters at the Bonifacio Naval Station. I subscribed to the established queuing system for awarding government quarters then. Our savings had been invested with AFPSLAI since 1978 and PNSLAI since 1993 which enabled us to avail of “double your money” every three and a half to four years. Unlike in “John and Marsha,” I and my parents-in-law mutually liked/loved each other.
c.I have religiously filed my SAL every year and all our assets are declared therein. If i have gotten millions of pesos from conversion as alleged by one,such could not be declared in the SAL because it will become unexplained wealth. Neither do i have hidden wealth;hence,anyone who finds it will have it.
d.I abide by the laws and follow the rules and regulations. PMA taught me to do so.
3.On family affairs-
a.My eldest, Margaux graduated from UP Manila in 1997,Michael from UST in 2000,and Pamela from UST in 2006. Pamela was Alay sa Kawal medical scholar. Her contract required her to serve in the medical corps but she quit as a probationary lieutenant because she preferred civilian life;thus, I had to pay for her unserved term.
b. My wife’s ‘shopping spree’ has often been at Nepa Q, Divisoria mall and vicinity,and Quiapo. We are together when it is Divisoria time. On March 16,one day after I was fired, I joined her at Nepa as baggage husband.
c. We have a 1994 Lite Ace, a 1998 Mazda, and a 2003 Starex which was permanently damaged by flood in 2009. It was covered by insurance for act of God. On March 22,we replaced it with a 2007 Nissan Urvan estate. These vehicles have been used by my family for their movements;not the staff car.
I only use the gas allocated to me,past and present,nothing more. The number of my drivers had always been as authorized;nothing more. It is correct that I have allowed military personnel to drive our private vehicles.
4.I have no pending case; hence, I am not under investigation. However,I reported the two officials in writing, with documentation. Public interest calls for their impartial investigation.
****
by Victor Reyes
Malaya
Malacañang has unceremoniously relieved a Defense Department undersecretary, known for his uprightness even during his days in the military, in the middle of an investigation against two erring Defense officials.
The sacking of Ariston delos Reyes, former Navy vice admiral, as undersecretary for internal affairs, was learned through a farewell letter he sent to colleagues and which was leaked to media.
Gary Olivar, deputy presidential spokesman, said Malacañang does not need to explain the President’s decision to terminate Delos Reyes.
He said it is the President’s prerogative.
“It’s not unusual and of course the President always has the privilege to change her mind, no matter how late. It’s also the President’s discretion,” Olivar said
Delos Reyes had ordered one of the Defense officials investigated for dishonesty for getting his son into the National Defense College even if he was unqualified, and the other for keeping a cache of “serviceable munition and unexploded ordnance” and storing the firearms and explosives in his office at the DND.
Delos Reyes, in a phone interview, confirmed he sent the letter dated March 18. He said it was the only way he could say goodbye to colleagues in the department under which he served for four years.
“My termination seemed unceremonious, there was no forewarn. I am not also facing any case…It might not be well accepted, especially to the DND personnel who know that I am the one who reported the dishonesty (by the erring undersecretary) and ammunition (case of the assistant secretary)” he said.
“My conscience is clear. Whoever wants to read it (letter), let them read,” he said.
Delos Reyes said he still did not know the real reason for his termination. “They just said (I am) terminated…As written in my article, they do not know the reason.”
Delos Reyes said he could not say if his termination had something to do with the investigation against the undersecretary and the former assistant secretary.
“But the timing was not right and some might misconstrue them (two issues) as the reason why I was sent away. I cannot ascertain that that was the reason. Who knows, it’s just incidental. I don’t want to speculate. It’s the people privy (to his termination) who should tell. I don’t want to tell something based on my opinion or belief,” he said.
When asked to name the two erring defense officials he investigated, Delos Reyes refused. “Let us deal with the facts first, the circumstances (of my termination),” he said.
Delos Reyes said he received a letter from the office of Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza on March 9, informing him that he was being recalled. Delos Reyes is actually a presidential assistant deployed to the DND.
On March 11, Delos Reyes said he reported to Mendoza who told him his services were being terminated “due to reorganization” in the administration.
“I requested for and he informed me that he did not know the reason for the sudden termination. I mentioned that I could have been allowed to continue serving in the government for about three months more until June 30. Otherwise, it would be construed as a result of bad performance or for any offense,” said Delos Reyes.
He said his relief was “untimely” because as undersecretary for internal affairs, he initiated and implemented projects and activities intended to enhance administrative services and information system management at DND, as well as professionalism in the bureaucracy and the AFP.
“Moreover, recently, I initiated reports on two incidents involving two DND officials whom I recommended for investigation,” Delos Reyes said in the letter.
During his talk with Mendoza, Delos Reyes said he requested an audience with President Arroyo. Mendoza told him his request “would be acted upon accordingly.” He said he then furnished Mendoza with the report on the erring defense officials and a handwritten note on his accomplishments as defense undersecretary.
On March 15, Gonzales’ chief of staff informed him that the department received a letter from Mendoza “terminating my services immediately.”
With his termination as defense undersecretary, Delos Reyes said civilian and military personnel may find it hard to understand “if indeed true and honest-to-goodness reforms in the DND-AFP are ongoing.”
The 60-year-old Delos Reyes, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1971, has been given the moniker “Mr. Clean” in the military for his uprightness. He retired from the service in 2006 and was immediately appointed as defense undersecretary. – With Jocelyn Montemayor
*************
My column in today’s Malaya:
Why was Ariston de los Reyes fired?
The last time I mentioned Ariston de los Reyes in my column was on May 11, 2005 when I wrote about the beautification project of then AFP Chief Efren Abu.
I got information then that he wrote a marginal note to the documents on the P19 million beautification of the sidewalks in Camp Aguinaldo to address the complaints of retired officers that jogging in the area had become an arduous effort because of the “bitak-bitak na sidewalk.”
De los Reyes, then the AFP vice chief of staff, wrote that “demolishing the present sidewalks and replacing them with paving blocks for aesthetic purposes may not be in keeping with the times” considering other more urgent and basic problems involving finances in the military.
De los Reyes recommended that the money be used for “repairing buildings instead, say government quarters at Camp Aguinaldo and others.”
He was ignored and Camp Aguinaldo got its nice sidewalks and the officers can now pleasantly do their morning and afternoon jogging.
Last week, a friend forwarded to me a letter by the retired vice admiral who is now Defense undersecretary for Internal Affairs addressed to his “mistahs”, Class ’71 of the Philippine Military Academy.
Correction: It should be “now former defense undersecretary.” The past three years, he had been presidential assistant with the rank of undersecretary and seconded to DND until March 10.
De los Reyes said last March 9, he received a letter from the Office of Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza recalling him from his job as USIA, DND and directed him to report to him. He called up his immediate boss, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales who said he didn’t know about the recall and told him to continue performing his duties.
Last March 11, Mendoza told him that “due to reorganization” his services were terminated. He got the written notice on March 16 and it was dated March 10.
In his farewell call on Gonzales, De los Reyes said he was offered a DND consultancy. He said, “Politely, I thanked him and begged off. When asked what I intended to do after government service, I answered, ‘Fade away, Sir.’”
In his letter, De los Reyes expressed concerned what would happen to the two cases he was investigating involving ranking DND officials. Here’s the portion on those cases:
“1. Dishonesty by an Undersecretary, as OIC, DND
“On October 23, 2009, I filed a complaint against an Undersecretary (Usec) in his capacity as OIC, DND for dishonesty. He approved the memorandum of the President National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) without the benefit of the usual completed staff work and which allowed his son from the private sector to attend the Masters in National Security Administration (MNSA) Class at government expense. He signed the Department Order for the admission of only additional nine (9) students to the MNSA since he deemed it appropriate for the SND himself to approve the waivers needed by two other applicants. In the order, his son appeared to be an accepted candidate without any disqualification. Later on, it turned out that the son needed two waivers namely: age requirement since he was only 33 years instead of 35 years old upon entry; and positional requirements for an applicant coming from the private sector who must be a senior executive in what NDCP considers as “Captains of Industry”. Thus, the signing of the order by the Usec was dishonesty because it did not indicate any waiver for his son. The order was misleading by making it appear that he satisfied all the entry requirements, which was false.
“The complaint became a factor for the former SND not to recommend the Usec for extension of service as he was turning 65 in December 2009.
“Nevertheless, upon assumption, the ASND recommended the extension which was granted by the Office of the President for a period of 90 days only.
“By February 2010, the Usec was recommended again for another extension of service. Since my complaint had not been acted upon, I wrote the President, thru ASND, on February 3, 2010 recommending that the matter be investigated. Hence, the complaint was forwarded to the Office of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC).
“2. Illegal Possession of Assorted Munition by an Assistant Secretary
“On March 8, 2010, I submitted a report to ASND on numerous and assorted munition, serviceable and unserviceable, which were found among the personal belongings of an Assistant Secretary (Asec) while they were being transferred from his former office to the Records Room on March 5, 2010.
“The Asec was relieved from that office almost two years ago but he continued to use the room as storage for his belongings. Among the reported serviceable munition were one hand-smoke and two fragmentation grenades, one round 81 mm mortar, one round 60 mm mortar, and nine packets of propellant charges. Small arms ammunition included 420 rounds 5.56 mm, 200 rounds Caliber .45, and various rounds for other types of small arms.
” I had to order the transfer of said belongings after he failed to remove them from his former room despite previous verbal and written advice. The room was earmarked for a Director assigned to said office since February 18. His continued refusal was an affront to good order and discipline in the Department and therefore could not be tolerated.
“From hindsight, had I not persisted in having the subject transfer, there could hardly be a way the Department would ever know that the Asec illegally possessed a cache of serviceable munition and unexploded ordnance (UXO). Ironically, same was stored against regulations in the vicinity or just under where ASND holds office. Such mode of ammunition storage endangered the safety of life and property of DND personnel.
“I hope the PAGC will conduct the investigation of the case. I have noted with great concern the biased and subjective investigations recently conducted by some officials of the Department.”
De los Reyes said, “While in the service, I had always endeavored to use government funds properly and wisely; ‘No hanky panky’ was my constant guidance/frequent reminder to people working with me. I believe in the principle of setting the example. Professionalism in the military and in the bureaucracy is a must. I have always been supportive of genuine reforms in government. The doctrine of completed staff work had helped me a lot both in office and field duties.”
This merely shows that it’s difficult for people like De los Reyes to fit in the current environment in the government.
Aris, while I agree that you are upright and honest, you can be so bloody irritating because you can be so goddamn petty!!!
Alright to expose these two testy cases but to make it worth everybody’s time and to make sure it will hurt the enemy where it matters, expose the bloody big shannigans (along with these two ‘accidental’ cases)!
Otherwise, Aris, just go and fade away.
Anna, there’s more to these two cases he cited than what is in the summary.
From a former NDCP faculty member:
I appreciated your detailed column today. Apparently, truth will catch up on the very unprofessional and corrupt practices at NDCP, which prides itself to be the premiere academic institution for national security leaders.
The name of the game if you are to survive in this administration are requisites for dishonesty, unjustice of the courts, greedy, corrupt, and must be a thief to line up your stars with the Queen Thief. Turn a blind eye in the evil things you constantly see and life is good, it’s plain ol’ hunky-dory…..such a repulsive form of government.
Ellen, regarding beautification ng Aguinaldo, grabeng kurakutan din naman talaga yun. De los Reyes was probably a thorn in their sides.
Wala na nga kong gana na kumontrata diyan sa mga projects nila, merong main contractor, wala namang capability pero merong konek kaya nananalo sa bidding. Ipapasa lang sa mga subcontractor tulad namin.
Yung 4-storey AFPSLAI Bldg. sa Santolan ginawa namin nung mid-90s yung electrical, hindi naman binayaran nung main contractor nila. Ireklamo mo, ibabalik ka din dun. Pag sisingilin mo naman, pagpupunasan ka lang ng cal. 45 habang nagbibingi-bingihan. Apat na taon naming kinokolekta, dedma lang lagi.
Iniwrite-off na ng accountant yung receivable na P1.8M at naka-charge to experience na lang. Haay, ang kakapal. Wala akong kerespe-respeto sa ganyang mga tao. Kaming naghahanap-buhay ng parehas, kinokotongan ng mga kakutsaba nila panakot yung mga koneksiyon nila sa Kampo at pati baril nila.
May araw din kayo!
Ellen,DO NOT BELIEVE in the monicker “Mr Clean” for this Ariston de los Reyes. When he was in the active service, he must have gotten millions of pesos in conversion money from the AFP. During his younger years, he could have sold diesel fuels intended for the boats and ships of the Philippine Navy.
He could NOT HAVE COME CLEAN in his entire military career. He was using an government military supplied vehicles. His family used government quarters, electricity, food and gasoline in bringing his children to school and in his wife’s shopping spree.
Giving him the monicker is an insult to each and every soldier of the Philippine Navy in particular and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in general.
Yung 4-storey AFPSLAI Bldg. sa Santolan ginawa namin nung mid-90s
Tongue, ikaw pala ang ang gumawa niyan! So who did you sign with? Boy Enrile or Arnie Acedera?
Anna, there’s more to these two cases he cited than what is in the summary.
Ok, Ellen. Would be good to hear about the rest.
Also, would like to know about the issues about NDCP (which was supposed to have been modernised, or at least its modernisation started during the time of FVR.)
By the way, Tongue, if you signed the contract during Acedera’s term, I’m not surprised you didn’t collect the remaining amount (particularly if you had to deal with Acedera’s brother who arrived from the US — he was to take care of “business” — as soon as news that Acedera was going to be appointed CSAFP because of “the mountains of gold that could be dug” with Acedera at the top.)
My Dad was a member of NDCP faculty (and examiner of candidates doing oral defence of thesis) and during his time, NDCP was still “poor” and had to make do with what they could have.
Anne, Didn’t sign a contract with AFPSLAI directly, we were subcontracted by their bagman whose company cornered the main contract despite the lack of experience, equipment/tools and personnel. All he had was the right connections and a shiny Tamfoglio .45 which he brandishes in front of our collector’s face. The poor guy had to resign when we forced him to return and try to collect what’s rightfully ours.
#6, Usec de los Reyes, cited specific cases that was being investigated. That’s what we are interested in.
If you have specific cases against him, tell us.
Tongue,
The poor guy had to resign when we forced him to return and try to collect what’s rightfully ours. (Hihihihi)
Kawawa naman yang collector mo. 🙁
Wow, ganyan ka walanghiya ang mga tao dyan?
Incredible.
Ellen,
I think I know the dummy who bagged the AFPSLAI contract… 🙂
On the issue of vindictiveness, Adm Delos Reyes never carried an emotional baggage for use come promotion time. He recalled a case of a navy commander who have not submitted statements of assets and liabilities for 9 years. As Chief, AFP OESPA/VCSAFP, Adm De Los Reyes directed this officer to explain which the latter failed to do. This commander was then recommended to be tried by the Efficiency and Separation Board which the then Chief of Staff, AFP approved. OESPA also forwarded the case to the OMBUDSMAN. When Adm De los Reyes retired and then appointed as USec, it did not take long for him to find out that the then FOIC, PN did not subject him to ESB. When the DND learned about this, the erring commander was deleted from the list of promotees. The following year, this commander was cleared by the Navy ESB and was recommended for promotion. This board never gave the reason why this commander did not submit his SAL for 9 years! Adm De Los Reyes said that there was no way such failure could be justified. This erring commander was a PMA graduate and should set a good example.
Adm De Los Reyes recalled another case involving another commander who received double salary for 9 years. This officer defrauded the government in the amount of P4.5 million. The Navy court-martialed him and considered him already punished when he was not promoted. This officer called on the admiral and begged that the latter concur with his retirement so he could pay back the government but that was a multiple fraud felony. The DND allowed him to retire and cannot charge the erring officer for fraud. The reason given was double jeopardy. At anyrate, Adm De los Reyes submitted the case to the OMBUDSMAN for review. This erring officer was also a PMA graduate. To Adm De Los Reyes, PMA officers should set the highest standards of honesty and efficiency in the service.
Vindictiveness? Or a manifestation of political will to keep a right always right and to right a wrong? Adm De Los Reyes bows out of government service with the thoughts that the multitudes of those he helped due to injustice or unfair treatment are more than enough to make up for black propaganda against his character. To him, honor is first and foremost.
Mr. Gary Olivar saan mo ibinasura ang iyong ideyalismo at prinsipyo?
Sayang ka dahil malaki ang paghanga ko sa iyo noon dahil sa iyong pagiging aktibista dahil. Pero ba’t ngayon ang dali mong mag depensa sa mga kamaliang ginawa ng iyong pekeng presidente. Katulad ka rin ni Lola Planas. Kinain ng anay ng pagkagahaman ang inyong mga ipinaglalaban noon.
What a display of an arrogance coming from the Fake President when she showed her displeasure to Gen. Versoza’s statement in public that He will not support Puppet Bangit in case of military takeover and he will not follow illegal orders.
And now her liar men are pressuring Gen. Versoza to retire? Gen. Versoza we salute you. Please do not cave in to the pressure. Just relinquish your post when you reach mandatory retirement. Do not follow the pressure.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, the fake president is unceremoniously relieving an honest dnd undersecretary.
Because she is evil, she does not want to have righteous and good person in her surrounding. All good people must be eliminated because they will be ultimately telling the truth comes the day of judgment.
We pity you Usec Ariston delos Reyes. Hope you will tell and expose the truth behind your unceremonious relief.
But at the same time, we salute you! Because your unceremonious relief only told the truth that you are a good person. If you are not relieved, then it meant that you are a bad person.
From MValbuena:
Pakisabi lang kay Mr. Ariston de los Reyes, na sa gobiernong ito walang lugar ang honest. One has to be a cheater, dishonest, liar, etc. Walang lugar ang katulad nya’
“Wow, ganyan ka walanghiya ang mga tao dyan?
Incredible.” – Ellen
Marami na akong experience sa mga taong ganyan, porke dikit sa matataas sa gobyerno, abusado. I-share ko lang.
Yung abugado ni Bongbong na si Atty. M (Mañaquis yata yon?) ganyan din ang modus operandi, bumili ng generator para sa resort niya, name drop ng kung sinong konek niya, pag siningil mo, pagpupunasan ka ng baril. Natanggal pati Credit and Collection Manager namin.
Merong kliyente sa Davao na isang kilalang local official, napakahirap ng delivery – sa bundok inakyat yung generator, tapos nung kokolektahin na nung ahente sabihan ba naman ng “Sabi mo mag-issue ako ng PO, nag-issue naman ako, sabi mo umarkila ako ng crane, umarkila ako, tapos ngayon sisingilin mo pa ako?” Sabay pinatungga ng isang Tanduay long neck yung ahente namin habang nakatutok yung mga M16 ng private army.
Mabuti pang kausap yung NPA, sa totoo lang. Merong “Father Ravang” na nagpakilalang NPA na umorder ng traktora na ang delivery instruction: “Leave tractor beside mango tree close to the river near the KM. 120 marker, find the payment instruction also there”. Sa takot ng Tarlac branch namin idineliver naman, at yung cash na bayad nakuha naman ayon sa nakasulat sa sobreng nakuha sa punong mangga. Pang-sine diba?
Tongue, sulat ka ng book on how to collect money from government. That would be very colorful.
Malibog pa:
He could NOT HAVE COME CLEAN in his entire military career. He was using an government military supplied vehicles. His family used government quarters, electricity, food and gasoline in bringing his children to school and in his wife’s shopping spree.
This is extremely funny because you might be referring to the usual people you meet in the government or maybe yourself…..I have known this man and his whole family as someone who is very simple There might have been many opportunities that he could have abused his privileges but he never did because he knows what is his and what is government-owned. You will never guess that he has all these privileges because he would ALWAYS opt for simple living and best of all he instilled to his children values to never take advantage of these privileges. For their personal lives, they used their own vehicle even if its model is old and walked if they have to go somewhere near, eat in fast food but they will always prefer home-made foods. His wife never indulged into shopping sprees instead she chose to be a simple mother who rarely or maybe never went out for the so called shopping sprees instead goes out to spend quality time with their children. His children are well-respected in their professions, all starting from the bottom rank and worked to the top because they are capable of being known in their own fields and most of all they were brought up as good and honest people. The children also showed simplicity, that until now they still use their old vehicle if available, hails a taxi ride at times, or join their friends for carpool.
Mr.Clean may have a long list of all his achievements in the government and you may have all the right to criticize him but i think looking at Mr. Clean as a private individual, a family man to be more specific, his greatest achievement is he has raised together with his wife, children who are down-to-earth and instilled the values of SIMPLE LIVING…
And NO ONE has the right to criticize him..
Really now, Mr. Malibogpa, where have you been getting such speculations? “…he must have gotten millions of pesos in conversion money from the AFP”… “he could have sold diesel fuels intended for boats and ships”… “he could not have come clean in his entire military career”… Your condescending “must have’s” and “could have’s” are just too weak tarnish a sterling reputation.
Thank you for mentioning that he was “using government military supplied vehicles and government quarters in his entire military career”. It seemed rather pointless, though, because we all know that he was entitled to them during his “entire military career” anyway.
If I were your intell instructor, I’d place a Dunce cap on your head
From former Undersecretary Ariston de los Reyes:
After all the responses,let us not forget that what really matters is pursuing the investigation of the two DND officials.nevertheless,below are my comments/corrections on some of the responses.
1.On my naval career, I earned my Navy Command at Sea Badge in 1984,after successful command of three patrol vessels.(i never sold diesel fuel while aboardship as suspected by ‘malibog.’) I earned my senior command badge as commander task force(tf)61,the impression that i was prematuredly relieved from TF61 is not correct because my stint there lasted for 18 months from March 1997 to October 1998. For that period, TF 61 was awarded two chief of staff streamers and I received Cavalier Award in 2000 for outstanding performance in naval operations,one distinguished Navy Cross, and three military merit medals.
2. On the term “Mr Clean”- it came out in the papers during the stint of Secretary Cruz. I do not know the exact definition of the term but i am certain that it was not meant to be synonymous to angel,saint, or sinless. I am not Jjesus Christ.however,people might be aware or might have heard any/some/all of the items below.
a. I do not ask for nor received money/bribe/sexual favors from dealers.
b. I have lived a simple life.think of the savings for 43 years by not smoking;no night spot visits;no gambling;no excessive drinking;no number 2,no kids out of wedlock. From 1976 to 2002,we lived with my parents-in-law. The Navy could not provide us living quarters at the BonifacioNaval Station. I subscribed to the established queuing system for awarding government quarters then. Our savings had been invested with AFPSLAI since 1978 and PNSLAI since 1993 which enabled us to avail of “double your money” every three and a half to four years. Unlike in “John and Marsha,” I and my parents-in-law mutually liked/loved each other.
c.I have religiously filed my SAL every year and all our assets are declared therein. If i have gotten millions of pesos from conversion as alleged by one,such could not be declared in the SAL because it will become unexplained wealth. Neither do i have hidden wealth;hence,anyone who finds it will have it.
d.I abide by the laws and follow the rules and regulations. PMA taught me to do so.
3.On family affairs-
a.My eldest, Margaux graduated from UP Manila in 1997,Michael from UST in 2000,and Pamela from UST in 2006. Pamela was Alay sa Kawal medical scholar. Her contract required her to serve in the medical corps but she quit as a probationary lieutenant because she preferred civilian life;thus, I had to pay for her unserved term.
b. My wife’s ‘shopping spree’ has often been at Nepa Q, Divisoria mall and vicinity,and Quiapo. We are together when it is Divisoria time. On March 16,one day after I was fired, I joined her at Nepa as baggage husband.
c. We have a 1994 Lite Ace, a 1998 Mazda, and a 2003 Starex which was permanently damaged by flood in 2009. It was covered by insurance for act of God. On March 22,we replaced it with a 2007 Nissan Urvan estate. These vehicles have been used by my family for their movements;not the staff car.
I only use the gas allocated to me,past and present,nothing more. The number of my drivers had always been as authorized;nothing more. It is correct that i have allowed military personnel to drive our private vehicles.
4.I have no pending case; hence, I am not under investigation. However,I reported the two officials in writing, with documentation.public interest calls for their impartial investigation.
it is very nice that mr reyes answered directly to the insinuations of one or so blogger here. thanks.
Ellen,
Good to read response of de los Reyes.
I’ve always believed he is upright and honest. And just as I said in previous comments, he is one who “believes in following the rule to the letter because it is how it is.”
I never believed that he was vindictive contrary to what others say here and as I said earlier on, “I’m sure that was part of a distinct behavioural pattern — not so much out of vengeance, but because he arrogantly believed he was right.”
Re command badge at sea: wasn’t sure about that, it’s good he corrected that.
In other words, he was a naval officer of the professional type who found himself, first in a military organisation that had was behind the times and then in a civilian organisation that was only half professional and highly politically driven.
That said, I see him in a civilian role of secretary of defence under the next president. His arrogance and stubborness can do a lot of good to improve that department in all areas where honest and no-nonsense governance is required. However, he must bear that it comports “risks.” The post of secretary of defence is highly political and volatile in the Philippine setting today. if he becomes secretary of defence, he may, nay, he will be required to make compromises.
If Aquino wins and he hasn’t made up yet the list of names that would form his cabinet, the presidentiable should look at de los Reyes as a possible candidate for the post.
Incidentally, his mother was a “good judge of military character.” Cory had just thwarted coup after coup and the time had come to choose the CSAFP from among the names submitted to her; she asked only one question, “Who among them will shoot?” (a metaphor) — she didn’t know them all that well.
She chose the one who was at the bottom of the list on the basis of the general reply to the question. She chose the dark horse, Boy Abadia over Boy Enrile espite the fact that Enrile had gone to extra lengths to negotiate with the rebels.
In the same vein, I have every reason to believe that if Noynoy wins (or whoever the winner may be), should ask question along the same line: “Who will clean up the military and get the job done in terms of internal security?”
Ooops, “However, he must KNOW that it comports “risks.”
Oh Ellen, besides not having a strong patron, another reason why he was bypassed for FOIC position, I’m sure is because he belonged to the same class as Honasan.
Classmate din yata sya ni Lacson na ngayon ay nawawala!
Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales dismisses issues raised by former Usec de los Reyes. Report by Malaya’s Victor Reyes:
More here: http://www.malaya.com.ph/03262010/news10.html
He said Delos’ Reyes’ term reached its “maximum allowable term of three years” last January.
Re “maximum allowable term of three years” — this may be true but this has not always been applied; besides, good common sense dictates that when you have a person who is doing his job better than well, a good and intelligent boss will do everything in his power to get that person extended. You are not talking about the military organisation here, you are talking about a civilian arm of government.
So, now, now, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, why is it that you’ve become a stickler for rules all of a sudden? Is it because de los Reyes “made noises” that you didn’t want to hear?
If Pinas could find a Robert McNamara-like to be a secretary of defence, Pinas would go a long way in establishing good governance.
McNamara was my favourite defence secretary of all time (despite Vietnam which he wanted stopped in the first place when he decided it couldn’t be won.)
From a De los Reyes sympathiser who asked that his identity be withheld:
Why are there cabinet secretaries (and undersecretaries) being recycled from department to department?
Why is it that when it comes to people compliant to the powers-that-be, rules are relaxed? Take the case of Usec Santos. He is the same Usec referred to by sacked Mr. De los Reyes in his letter which I quote:
Take note that 65 years old is the mandatory retirement for those occupying appointive positions in government. The Acting Secretary of National Defense mentioned here is Gonzales.
So that you may know, Norberto Gonzales was a co-conspirator of Steve Psinakis in the “Light-A-Fire Movement” during martial law years where in one of the bombing incidents, singer Nonoy Zuniga lost his leg. I was in the Army intelligence then.
USec Santos is a close confidante of Sec. Angelo Reyes,who was responsible for bringing the former to DND when Reyes was appointed SND.
From Andres Malaya (not his real name):
Mabuhay kayo! Gusto ko sanang magkomento sa blog mo, pero hindi ako marunong. Pasensya na.
Nagpapasalamat kami at nagsulat ka ng tungkol kay Usec Delos Reyes.Mabuti na malaman din ng taong bayan ang nangyari. Nakakalungkot kasi.
Kilala namin siya bilang mabuti at matuwid na tao. Napakabait niya. Marami ang naiinis sa kanya dahil nadidiskubre nya ang mga mali at kapalpakan. Pero kung hindi naman gumawa ng mali ang mga yun, wala namang madidiskubre.
Kapares lang ng mga may kaso ngayon sa DND. Nagagalit sila sa kanya dahil sinampahan sila ng reklamo. May mga tao na nagsumite ng pekeng dokumento. May mga tao na sangkot sa pagbebenta ng kasangkapan diyan sa motorpool. May mga tao na sangkot sa anomalya sa bidding ng mga gamit ng AFP. Hanggang ngayon wala pa rin hatol sa mga lumabag sa batas at patakaran na yan.
May mga tao na galit kay Usec Delos Reyes dahil apektado sa mga paghihigpit nya. Natutuwa sila ngayon dahil wala na sya. Sana naman ay mareresolba ang mga kaso na yan ayon sa batas. Kung mali talaga sila, dapat parusahan. Huwag patawarin dahil gagayahin ng iba. Sa ibang ahensya ng gobyerno maraming napaparusahan. Dito sa DND, sa tinagal-tagal ng panahon na nandito kami, ilang dekada na rin yun, wala pang naparusahan. Pinapaalis lang. Yung iba, binibigyan pa ng promosyon. Nakakadismaya.
Basta Madam Ellen, marami kaming naniniwala kay Usec Delos Reyes. Ipagtanong mo pa sa mga opisyal at sundalo sa AFP at Navy na nakasama niya, sasabihin nila na matuwid siyang tao. Madami siyang natulungan na tao. Maraming galit pero yung mga gusto lang lumusot yun. Pagpalain pa sana ng Maykapal si Usec Delos Reyes.
May mga empleyado dito na nambubuska pag may sinasabing maganda ang isang tao tungkol kay Usec Delos Reyes. Wag na daw ipagtanggol, mabuti raw at wala nang sisilip ng kung ano-ano. Kasi kasama sila sa naapektuhan ng paghihigpit ni Usec Delos Reyes kagaya ng pagbabawal magluto sa opisina dahil baka magkasunog, ang paggamit ng finger scan para hindi na makapandaya sa bundy clock, at kung ano-ano pang pagbabawal na dapat lang naman sundin ng isang tapat na kawani ng gobyerno. Makikitid kasi ang utak nila. Yan, ganyan ang klase ng mga taong galit kay Usec Delos Reyes.
Natawa ako sa sulat ni Andres Malaya, meron palang nagluluto sa opisina ng DND.
Akala ko bidding lang ang niluluto diyan pati pala baon ng empleyado!
*********************
Ellen,
Tungkol sa pagsulat ng libro ayon sa pangongolekta sa gobyerno, mahirap lang naman kung wala kang padulas. Natuto ako niyan sa Daddy ko nung buhay pa siya, isinasama ako lalo na pag delivery ng tongpats. Lahat meron para walang away. Alam iyan ng kaibigan mong si Lito Banayo nung PostGen pa siya. Dahil lahat ng sumunod sa kanya, may sariling mga bagmen, kadalasan personal driver.
In fairness kay Lito, isa siya sa tatlong PostGen na kailanman hindi nanghingi ng lagay sa Erpat ko – Si Roilo Golez at si Adm. Tagumpay Jardiniano yung dalawa.
Ang experience ko ay idinadaan lagi sa mga fixers o bagmen para protektado ang mga utak. Ganyan din sa DPWH, tini-triple namin ang presyo dahil mahigpit sila sa porsiyento. One part sa amin, one part sa fixer at amo niya, one part sa mga lalagyan.
Back to topic. Sort of.
I can also remember one time I was still in grade school when my Dad brought me to DND (MND then), in the office of Deputy Minister (for Munitions or something) Carmelo Barbero who wouldn’t accept a dinner invitation after my Dad bagged an order for some office equips. They were neighbors in the province still the guy was honest enough to reject a simple thank-you dinner. We came over to deliver a grocery bag with coffee and cookies for his office consumption. That, he accepted. To think that that was in the days of martial law, if we believe all the stories, was the most corrupt years yet here is one guy that won’t touch any favors from a supplier. Gone are the days.
What we have in the DND today instead, is a secretary who is a known former terrorist, who floats an idea of a transition council led by this evil unelected president, and is buddy-buddy with an undersecretary who keeps munitions and unexploded ordinance in his office instead of arresting and firing him. The good guys are the ones that are fired.
From AnnaDeBrux:
…”If Aquino wins and he hasn’t made up yet the list of names that would form his cabinet, the presidentiable should look at de los Reyes as a possible candidate for the post [Defence Sec.).”
I’ve been with DND for a long time and I know it’s so maldita of me but I have to admit, my eyes would probably glint with wicked glee whenever Usec De los Reyes catches and reprimands crooked employees. The department requires a long overdue massive clean up and who better to do that than Mr. Clean himself?
Good luck then (and buhbye!) to the very laxative employees who: come in at 8:30 in the morning, have a coffee break at 9:30, go off to lunch at 11, come back at 1:30, gossip about fellow employees at 2, another coffee break at 3, prepare to go home at 4, zoom out of the office at barely 5pm…employees who ask others to ‘bundy clock’ for them while they go gallivanting elsewhere (and the ‘bundy clockers’ of the gallivanters!) employees with surprisingly high SGs who are unqualified, who barely know how to use computers, who have fake school diplomas (I think Usec De los Reyes filed a report against an employee who is in the managerial level who actually had counterfeit diploma/s. But well, as expected, the case was stalled, disregarded, then left to rot somewhere along with the rest of the deep dark secrets of the department. So fake-diplo-employee continues to work in the department. It could be because fake-diplo-employee is someone close to the Usec mentioned in Usec. De los Reyes’ case #1… tsk, tsk. Usec-cas-#1, you are so ekis talaga!)
Sounds like Andres Malaya knows exactly what I’m talking about (and knows even more):
“Kapares lang ng mga may kaso ngayon sa DND. Nagagalit sila sa kanya dahil sinampahan sila ng reklamo. May mga tao na nagsumite ng pekeng dokumento. May mga tao na sangkot sa pagbebenta ng kasangkapan diyan sa motorpool. May mga tao na sangkot sa anomalya sa bidding ng mga gamit ng AFP. Hanggang ngayon wala pa rin hatol sa mga lumabag sa batas at patakaran na yan.”
How dirty and grimy this department is! There may be a few who were maliciously glad when Usec De los Reyes left (safe na uli sila! Pwede na uli gumagawa ng kabalastugan! Wheee), but there are many of us who were deeply saddened and disappointed to see him go. He could have done so much more.
Everyone knows how devoted Adm delos Reyes is to the PMA ideals of courage, integrity, and loyalty, how genuinely committed he was during active service in the AFP and then as an undersecretary in DND. I have had the honor of working with him for a few years and during those times, he never showed a single streak of vindictiveness or dishonesty. He treated everyone equally and with respect, from those in the lower ranks to high ranking officials. It is a bit distressing to find out that his uprightness, his steadfastness, his firm commitment to follow the rules are misconstrued by some small-minded individuals as vindictiveness or even bitterness.
So thank you, VAdm Ariston Delos Reyes, sir, for writing your letter although we are familiar with most of the contents of them anyway. Rest assured that the majority of those in the military and defense establishment, especially those who know you well do not believe a single bad word that others have been saying against you and your family.
Hindi naman mahalaga kung ang isang tao ay walang bahid dungis sa kanyang karangalan. Huwag lamang ‘yung nagmamagaling nga ay walang naniniwala sa mga ipinangangalandakan.
Just like Anna and anybody here, I believe former USec de los Reyes just follows what his heart dictates. His was not vengeance but keeping up how he was brought about (or up?) during his plebe days.
‘Yan kasi ang saklap kapag diretso ang prinsipyo ng tao. Daming mga nangasagasaang pinipilit ituwid ‘yung baluktot nilang gawi na nakamihasnan. Sila ‘yung nasisikmurang ipakain sa pamilya ang galing sa hindi pinagpaguran. ‘Yung oras ngang dapat ipagtrabaho ay ninanakaw pa, how much more ‘yung talagang pagkakakuwartahan na?
Kunsabagay ay ano pa ba ang aasahan natin sa gobyerno ni gloria? Hindi ba’t ang pundasyon nito ay pang-aagaw, pandaraya, pagnanakaw, pagsisinungaling at kakapalan ng mukha?
Sino sino at anong mga uri ng pagkatao ang mga nakapaligid sa kanya?
Kilala ko si USEC delos Reyes mula pa noong siya ay Grade 6. Iyon ang simula kasi Grade 3 ako. Palagi siyang First Honor sa anumang class. Iginagalang siya ng lahat ng kaniyang classmate. Nagdarasal araw araw. Nag high school sa Torres High School. Ang bahay nasa tapat ng simbahan at nag rorosaryo araw araw ! Nag punta sa PMA. Kahit minsan, Hindi nagtaas ng boses. Matipd. Isa lamang ang sapatos na hindi issue ng gobyerno. 2 lamang ang civilian na kamiseta. Nag graduate sa PMA number 2 ! Nag graduate sa Naval School Number 1 ! Minamahal ng lahat ng kaniyang classmate. Ni minsan, hindi nakagalitan ng magulang. Samantala, Classmate ko yang si Gary Olivar.Nagpapahayag lamang siya ng mga salitang textbook ng nagigipit at naiipit. Hinahangaan ko siya noon. Nasa UP ako noong nasa NAVY si USEC …Kahit minsan, hindi ko naringgan ng kasinungalingan, kayabangan, pagmamataas, Hindi siya Santo. Dahil nabubuhay pa siya sa mundo. Pero kung merong santo na maaring ilulok katulad ni Mother TERESA… Iboboto ko si USEC Aris DELOS REYES… Sa wakas ng lahat ng sinasabi nilang “ingay”, may Diyos na buhay na nag mamasid.Siya ang DIYOS NG KATARUNGAN ! HINDI SIYA NATUTULOG ! Justice will prevail sooner than later.
Mabuhay ka sa habang panahon USEC ARISTON DELOS REYES JR.!!!