Posted by Roger Luis on September 6, 2005:

A Voice From the Asphalt Jungle - Death is inevitable. It comes surreptitiously, unexpectedly. To older people, especially the sickly ones, it comes sooner than rather than later. When Death appears at the doorsteps of a seemingly healthy and lively young man with a bright future still ahead of him, it is a shock. The sudden death of Cavalier Rene Jarque, USMA Class of 86, jolted and left me asking why him? Why now? In his very early 40s, idealistic, a brilliant thinker and a prolific writer, he is indeed a great loss to his generation, nay to this country now deeply mired in a web of political intrigues and turmoil and approaching an economic meltdown. He was one of the more visible and articulate voices of morality and a vehement critique of corruption and corrupt practices both in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and of government in general. He was probably the youngest guest of honor and speaker that Philconsa, an organization of justices and judges, former department secretaries, generals and admirals, senators and congressmen, business people and so many other luminaries, ever had to listen to. This speaks well of the recognition he had achieved in his lonely crusade and in so short a time. He not only gained the respect of his contemporaries but also had gained kudos and the respect of his elders. He will surely be missed. Rene, an Ilonggo and the son of a colorful general, fellow Cavalier Raymundo Jarque, PMA Class of 1961, resigned from the Armed Forces disillussioned by the observed and perceived malpractices in the AFP hierarchy, akin to the issues raised by the RAM in the 80s. He was probably one of them, if not active, akin in spirit. I did not know him all that well when he used to join the affairs of the West Point Society, the organization of USMA alumni of which I was a board member. He was always the perfect choice for an emcee because of his ready wit and adlibs which reminded me of his father Ray, my upperclassman at PMA. The attendance at his necrological service which I attended, was a revelation. Among those who delivered their poignant eulogies of the man were Governor Padaca of the giant-killer fame who ended the political dominance of the Dy dynasty in Isabela; my inaanak Col Rafael Galvez of the Makati Siege fame and Rene's comrade-in-arms in the Scout Ranger; the infamous Boy Pastor, the "termite" of the Civil Society, and several others, capped by the fiery rhetorics and a call to Rene's PMA Class 1986 classmates to carry the torch by his father General Raymond Jarque. While he did not speak, House Speaker Jose de Venecia was also in attendance in silent respect for the man. The presence of these reform oriented personalities indeed defined in a way the man that was Rene Jarque! It was unfortunate that I was not present in his speaking engagement at Philconsa but it was a privilege for me to have watched what was to be his last TV appearance at the Strictly Politics sitcom hosted by Pia Hontiveros. Rene was with two congressmen, one of whom was Teddy Boy Locsin. I did send thru the West Point website my congratulations to him for his knowledgeable insights into issues, with my admonition on his tendency to generalize, a friendly advise coming from an elder. As I answered him in his earlier reaction to what I wrote about his views on the reforms in the AFP I have always done my part silently in the effort for changes, for the so-called moral regeneration of Philippine Society. Maybe, just maybe, more people should speak out now and be heard by the public; their voices and thinking on issues made known. Let now the silent majority speak out! Not everybody is as articulate and as prolific in their writings as a Rene Jarque but the voices of righteousness have to be heard nevertheless. And as the saw goes, ". . . if not now, when?" Let it be now!

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