Former President Noynoy Aquino laid to rest


The convoy carrying the ashes of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (PNoy) arrived at Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City at about 12:40 p.m.

(RTVM / MANILA BULLETIN)

Members of the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) gave the former President a water salute before the convoy entered the memorial park.

The convoy was met by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Cirilo Sobejana and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on a small bridge, a few meters away from Aquino’s gravesite.

Balsy Aquino-Cruz then gave the urn of Aquino to one of the honor guards upon the arrival at the memorial park.

The Philippine national anthem was played by the band and the AFP gave the former President a 21-gun salute after a short Mass.

The Philippine flag was placed on top of the urn of Aquino before it was transferred to a funeral carriage bedecked with yellow flowers. His ashes were placed in a tomb beside his parents, former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino.

Yellow petals of flowers were also dropped by the chopper of the Philippine Air Force during the funeral march.

Parañaque City police and force multipliers from the barangay positioned at the entrance of the memorial park to control the crowd.

As early as 6:00 a.m., memorial park workers prepared the final resting of the former President.

A sound system and a big screen were also readied in the area for the supporters of the former President to see and hear the programs prepared for Aquino’s funeral.

Aquino died peacefully in his sleep early Thursday morning at the age of 61.