31 Facts About Angelo Reyes

Angelo Tomas Reyes known as General Reyes, was a Filipino retired general and politician who served as the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff from 2000 to 2001 under President Joseph Estrada.

At the height of the 2001 EDSA Revolution, Reyes withdrew his support for Estrada, which led to the installation of Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as president, under whom he then served as Cabinet Secretary until 2010.

Angelo Reyes served under Arroyo as Secretary of the Departments of the Interior and Local Government, Environment and Natural Resources, Energy, and National Defense.

Angelo Reyes ran for a seat in Congress under the United Transport Coalition, a party representing workers in the public transportation sector, in the 2010 party-list election but was dropped by the party without his consent.

Angelo Reyes was married to Teresita Pernia-Angelo Reyes with whom he has five sons, Pablo, Angelito, Marc, Carlo and Judd.

Angelo Reyes was born on March 17,1945, in San Miguel, Manila to Pablo Paralejas Angelo Reyes and Purificacion Tomas.

Angelo Reyes spent most of his childhood in San Miguel.

Angelo Reyes completed his secondary education at the Cubao High School in 1960, where he graduated as the class valedictorian.

Angelo Reyes then proceeded to acquire two master's degrees, namely: Masters in Business Administration from the Asian Institute of Management in 1973 and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard's John F Kennedy School of Government in 1991.

Angelo Reyes took up International Defense Management Course in Monterey, California, in 1983.

Angelo Reyes began his military career as a team leader in the Philippine Army's 1st Special Forces Airborne Regiment.

Angelo Reyes spent his field command duties as battalion commander, brigade commander, and area commander in Mindanao where he gained experience in addressing the threats from the communist insurgency and Muslim secessionism in the Philippines.

Angelo Reyes became the Commanding General of the Philippine Army which then propelled him to the top post of the Philippine military as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

On January 19,2001, the then-General Angelo Reyes withdrew support from President Joseph Estrada, leading to his ouster.

Angelo Reyes held the following positions in the Philippine Army and in the top brass of Armed Forces of the Philippines, garnering various military medals and citations throughout his 39-year military career until he retired in 2001:.

Angelo Reyes was sworn as national defense secretary two days after retiring as the AFP's 27th chief of staff.

Angelo Reyes stepped down as defense secretary on August 29,2003, but was later named Anti-Kidnapping Presidential Adviser on October 26,2003, after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed Executive Order Number 248 creating the Office of the Anti-Kidnapping Presidential Adviser, and subsequently, the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force to address the problem of kidnapping in the country.

Angelo Reyes was later appointed as the Presidential Adviser on Anti-Smuggling on March 10,2004, by virtue of Executive Order Number 297 to orchestrate and oversee a consolidated national anti-smuggling campaign.

Angelo Reyes was a recipient of the Philippine Legion of Honor, AFP Distinguished Service Star, Military Merit Medals, Anti-Dissidence Campaign Ribbons and other Philippine military decorations.

Angelo Reyes was awarded the Order of the White Elephant by King Bhumibol of Thailand and the Order of Valor by the King of Malaysia.

Angelo Reyes was Secretary of the Interior and Local Government in the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from 2004 to 2006.

Angelo Reyes was Philippine Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources in the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from 2006 to 2007.

Angelo Reyes was Philippine Secretary of Energy in the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from 2007 to 2010.

On January 29,2008, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes announced that International Atomic Energy Agency 8-man team led by Akira Omoto inspected the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant on rehabilitation prospects.

At the time when the global crude oil spiked to its record highs, Angelo Reyes did an excellent job as the energy chief by implementing various programs to assist consumers adjust to the new cost of gas and other fuels at the pump.

Angelo Reyes re-launched the Compressed Natural Gas Program and issued the only Government Accreditation to Callandra LCNG Fuels Corporation.

Angelo Reyes denied receiving such funds for his own use and sought to cross-examine Rabusa, but was refused the opportunity.

Angelo Reyes then did not attend subsequent hearings in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Angelo Reyes asked his children and bodyguard to go ahead and wait for him in the car, before shooting himself in the chest near the heart.

Angelo Reyes was rushed to Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, but was declared dead on arrival and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Angelo Reyes was buried on February 13,2011, with full military honours at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Metro Manila.