General Andres Centino, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), paid his respect to former President and Commander-in-Chief Fidel V. Ramos at the Heritage Park in Taguig City on Saturday, August 6.
Centino was accompanied by Vice Adm. Adeluis Bordado, Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy (PN), as they rendered Ramos with a snappy salute, the highest gesture of courtesy and respect in the uniformed service.
According to Centino, Ramos was a “leader who dedicated his life to serving the people and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”
“The AFP will provide full military honors to the former President during inurnment on August 9 at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani in Taguig City,” Centino said.
The Philippine flag is also being flown at half-staff in all military camps and installations nationwide in accordance with the ten-day national mourning period declared by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. last August 1.
Related to this, the Philippine Army (PA) joined other major services of the AFP in the rehearsal of the state funeral of Ramos from the Heritage Park to Libingan ng Mga Bayani on Friday.
The PA Headquarters Security and Escort Battalion joined more than 100 servicemen who rehearsed the carrying of the casket, walk towards the caisson, and the march towards the inurnment site at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
“The inurnment ceremony will be simple yet solemn in accordance with the wishes of the former first family,” said Col. Xerxes Trinidad, Army spokesperson.
Ramos passed away on July 31 at the age of 94. He was the country’s 12th President, a former AFP Chief, and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary.