Former Philippines army chief and defence minister Angelo Reyes reportedly committed suicide on Tuesday by shooting himself in front of his mother's grave at a sprawling memorial park near the capital Manila.

A report published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer said that Reyes suffered a gunshot wound in the heart and an external wound to the back and was immediately rushed by aides to the Quirino Hospital, also in Manila, where he was pronounced dead at around 8:32 am. Reyes was 65.

Reyes headed the Philippines armed forces during the time of President Joseph Estrada and was tapped by the succeeding administration of Gloria Arroyo to hold cabinet positions, most prominent of which was the defence portfolio.

The former defence chief is one of the key subjects of an ongoing congressional probe that looks into alleged wrongdoings and corruption in the military organisation during his watch, in which he allegedly earned substantial amounts through fund conversions and manipulations.

A former budget officer of the Philippine military, Col George Rabusa, accused Reyes of having a hand and knowledge of the corrupt activities that benefitted the country's military generals, including Reyes.

Rabusa testified before a Senate committee hearing that Reyes and his wife, Teresita, collected commissions and allowances that run to thousands of dollars during their trips abroad. The story caused immediate uproars both inside and outside of the military circle, considering the plight of the organisation's foot soldiers, who were made to do with substandard equipments and lowly salaries.

Rabusa also revealed that Reyes was given a send-off bonus of up to $1 million when he retired from the service, an accusation that the former army chief had vehemently denied along with a number of former army heads, who Rabusa claimed also benefitted from the 'tradition'.

Prior to his suicide today, Reyes is expected to be summoned again in a congressional hearing that is set to investigate the unaccounted funds that were intended for use of Philippine troops deployed for UN missions. Sources said the questioned amounts that were allegedly converted run to a high of $US5 million.