MANILA, Philippines – “Nearer My God to Thee.”

As this 19th century Christian hymn was played, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Friday welcomed the return of one of its sons, Angelo Reyes, who left a legacy of being the conqueror of Camp Abubakar, the main camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Reyes, who served in the military service for 39 years starting as a cadet at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to being the chief of staff, is scheduled to be buried with full military honors at high noon Sunday at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

Escorted by military honor guards, Reyes' remains entered Gate 1 of Camp Aguinaldo shortly before noon and was brought straight to the St. Ignatius Cathedral where a wake will be held for one night before the body is transferred at the canopy, also inside the camp before sunset Saturday, February 12, 2011.

AFP Vice Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu led military officials, along with representatives from the Department of National Defense (DND), in receiving the flag-draped casket of Reyes as the convoy arrived at the cathedral and in welcoming the Reyes family.

Brig. Generals Romeo Fajardo, Arnulfo Palmea, George de Jesus, Raul Reyes, Ramiro Alibio, Rolando Tenefrancia, Neal P. Gacrama, and Reaza stood as pallbearers.

Maj. Gen. Ricardo Banayo of the Air Force led the arrival ceremonies.

As AFP officials, enlisted and civilian personnel, and those from the police and other agencies once led by the late general such as the Defense Department, the Interior and Local Government, Environment and Natural Resources, Energy, and ordinary civilians joined the queue to have a last glimpse of Reyes, retired Col. Eduardo Batac, DND spokesman said: “Napapansin po naman natin na napakadaming tao na dumadagsa dito. A lot of people have been touched by the late, the former chief of staff and the former secretary of national defense.”

Batac said the body will be transferred at the canopy as they expect more people from all walks of life to come to the camp to give their last respects to the general who took the nation by surprise when he shot himself Tuesday morning at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen, Jose Mabanta Jr., when asked how they want their former chief to be remembered in spite of the allegations hurled againt him, said: “Let's put it this way, even if he is flamboyant, witty, certainly a wise man, he is always after the welfare of the soldiers in the field, he is always after the morale of the lowest soldiers especially those in the front line.”

Mabanta added Reyes' legacy would be that once upon a time he led and was able to conquer Camp Abubakar in the late '90s where he led the armed forces in the all-out war versus the MILF forces.

While he refused to give further remarks, he said Reyes will also be remembered as one of the prime movers which led to the outcome of EDSA 2.

AFP officials said Reyes' wake will be open 24 hours although those wanting to pay their last respects will still have to pass through the normal security check at the camp.

Necrological service is scheduled Saturday at 5 p.m. as the remains will be transferred at sunset to the canopy area in front of the AFP General Headquarters building to be followed by a mass at 6 p.m.

The final mass will be held Sunday, February 13, at 8 a.m. at the canopy immediately followed by the departure honors at the GHQ flagpole.

Mabanta said the escort is expected to arrive at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Andres Bonifacio, Taguig City, at about 11 a.m. where the late general will be laid to rest. Reyes will be interred at the area reserved for flag officers and former chiefs of staff at the Libingan.

“This will be accompanied by one saluting battery of cannons which 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,” said Mabanta.

The Philippine Air Force will also provide flower petal drops during the procession before the remains of the late Chief of Staff is laid down to its final resting place where another set of 21-gun salute will be heard.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo A. David Jr. said, “The Armed Forces of the Philippines joins the family of the late Gen. 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 Gen. Reyes, an honor befitting a former SND, CSAFP and a soldier.”

Reyes started his career in the military when he joined the Philippine Military Academy in 1962, and graduated as member of Class 1966.

Burying the hatchet

Several hours before the third night of the wake of Reyes, his son Marc sent out a feeler to those who were at odds with his father that they would still be welcomed as “visitors” if they pass by the Ascencion Columbary on Araneta Avenue, Quezon City.

Sure enough, the feeler proved to be the most effective to “bury the hatchet” so to speak, as on the third night of the wake, the Reyes family received probably their most “unexpected visitor” in former President Joseph E. Estrada, whom their father helped topple in 2001. The former President arrived in the venue in his usual charm, sporting a semi-formal attire.

Estrada made a brief visit, and seemingly maximized probably his last chance to see his former Chief of Staff by talking to his immediate family.

Shortly before leaving, Estrada obliged to a brief interview, recognizing the achievements of the late general, who became probably “more popular” for his role not only in spearheading the withdrawal of support to Estrada's administration but also for serving as the latter's escort when the former President voluntarily stepped down from his post.

“Angie, General Angie Reyes, as my Chief of Staff, was instrumental in our success in the all-out war against the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front). That's a big accomplishment, that's one of my biggest accomplishments,” Estrada said.

Curiously, a day before the feeler was sent by the Reyes family, Estrada’s son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, already told the media covering the Senate that he will not attend the wake, as he “did not want to add insult” to the already grieving family of the former Department of Energy (DoE) Secretary.

The Reyes family, probably after witnessing the outpouring of support for their loved one, changed their mind not only about opening the viewing to the public, but even opening the venue to detractors and those who spoke ill of the former military officer during the height of the Senate inquiry on alleged corruption in the military.

“We would like at this point, to just have peace. I mean there's no more use anymore for animosity. Like I said my father, he always believed that it is better to unite than to divide,” Marc, serving as the official spokesperson of the family, said in an interview.

Like the second night of the wake, supporters poured in from every side of the political spectrum. Five masses were held, punctuated again by an inspirational song to help them (Reyes family) remain strong, sung by two of Reyes' granddaughters.

The five masses were offered by those who Reyes worked with at the Department of National Defense (DND), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and DoE.

The Harvard Club Philippines, wherein Reyes once served as President also offered a mass, while the DoE even brought their chorale group with them to sing the songs for the masses.

As what seemed to have been the theme of the night, to make peace with those who have offended them and renew ties with dear friends and former workmates, family friends like former AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon, retired Commodore Rex Robles, considered to be the best friend of Reyes; former Secretaries Ignacio Bunye, and Eduardo Ermita attended the wake.

Both Esperon and Robles, even offered their shoulders for some the immediate family members to cry on during certain points of the night's scheduled activities.

“Like many of his friends, I was shocked by what happened. So I took time to really absorb what happened. I guess that's that. We have to move on,” Bunye said after paying his last respects to a former colleague and friend.

Aquino visit

President Benigno S. Aquino III visited the wake of Reyes at the St. Ignatius' Chapel in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City Friday afternoon.

The President arrived shortly after 4 p.m. and shook hands with Reyes' wife and the rest of the family.

He was accompanied by Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman, and former Senator Manuel Roxas II among other government personalities.

He conferred with wife and eldest son briefly before leaving at 4:30 p.m. He declined to make a statement to media.

Rabusa won’t show up

But military whistleblower retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa said he would not attend the wake of Reyes.

“Hindi ako pupunta,” said Rabusa, who went to the Department of Justice Friday to file his supplemental affidavit on his application to Witness Protection Program.

Very respectable person

Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, who has visited the wake of Reyes, described the late general as a “very respectable person.”

Binay visited Reyes' wake at the Ascension Columbary on Araneta Avenue in Quezon City Wednesday night.

As mayor of Makati City, Binay had worked with Reyes, who once headed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“Secretary Reyes was a friend. He was a very cheerful person. He often called me up when he was our boss in the DILG,” Binay related.

“One thing that is commonly said about Gen. Reyes is that he is a very respectable person,” Binay said.

Binay earlier said he was shocked with Reyes' death.

Meanwhile, San Juan City Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito regretted the fate of Reyes, whom he called a friend.

“Even though everyone thinks that the paths of our families have separated because of politics, everyone also knows how hard my families, especially President Erap and General Reyes tried to forget about it,” Ejercito said.

Ejercito, the son of former President Estrada and San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez, said he salutes the “sacrifice” of Reyes, who was accused of pocketing millions of pesos in send-off money. (With reports from JC Bello Ruiz, Rio Rose Ribaya, and Jeamma E. Sabate)