Cortege honor guards cited, promoted

MANILA, Philippines - The four honor guards who escorted the remains of former President Corazon Aquino last Wednesday were proud to be part of the final journey of the late leader and icon of democracy.

Police Officer 1 Danilo Malab Jr., 25, said his experience during the nine-hour-long funeral procession for Mrs. Aquino was one of the most memorable in his life.

Malab and three other honor guards – Army Pfc. Antonio Cadiente, Airman Second Class Gener Laguindan of the Air Force and Navy Petty Officer 3 Edgardo Rodriguez – have been receiving praise for displaying exceptional discipline in the performance of their extraordinary task.

Throughout the entire procession along the 20-kilometer stretch from the Manila Cathedral to Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque, the four honor guards remained standing at attention.

Malab, a member of the Philippine National Police-Headquarters Support Service (PNP-HSS), admitted that standing up straight on a moving truck for several hours was a difficult task but prayers for stamina, and determination to live up to the expectation of his superiors and a mourning nation kept him on his feet.

“Hindi ko na inisip yung matagal na oras ng pagtayo kasi ako yung tatayo para sa kapulisan, karangalan ko na lang yun bilang isang pulis mapagsilbihan si (I didn’t think about the long hours because I was standing for the police service, it was my honor as a policeman to serve) former President Aquino,” said Malab who joined the PNP last June 1, 2008. “Dasal ako nang dasal para mabigyan ako ni God nang stamina (I kept prayig for stamina).”

Malab said he ate eggs and fried beef tapa for breakfast before they were deployed as early as 6 a.m. for the funeral procession.

PNP promotes honor guard

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa announced the promotion Malab to the next rank of PO2 after due deliberation.

“We are proud and consider it an honor for the PNP (to be part of the last moments of the former leader),” Verzosa told The STAR.

Aside from Malab, nine ranking police officials served as pallbearers of the former president at the Manila Cathedral.

Malab said regular physical fitness exercises helped him and the three other honor guards to endure the rain and wind during the funeral procession.

He admitted that he moved his toes, but they all ignored the coins that hit them when bystanders threw coins at the coffin as part of a Filipino tradition for the dead.

Senior Inspector Jesus Manalo, who was in charge of the police team assigned to the security of the cortege, admitted that he never expected the funeral procession to last more than four hours.

“But the procession took a lot longer because of the number of people. We were worried about Danny (Malab), but we knew he could do it and he did not let us down,” Manalo said in Filipino.

Manalo said his first words to Malab as soon as he alighted from the truck carrying President Aquino’s casket when it reached the gate of the Manila Memorial Park was, “Are you okay? What do you want?”

Malab said he ran towards a portable toilet set up near the gate of the memorial park.

While he was standing up there, Malab said he thought his wife Joan, who is working in Canada, was watching television and was very proud of his contribution to the historic event.

Malab’s parents Danilo Sr., and Alice were also watching the funeral procession at their hometown in Isabela and were also proud of their son’s contribution to Mrs. Aquino’s funeral.

Manalo said the HSS is proud of Malab, who will be given a weeklong vacation, which he will spend with his parents.

Drank rain water

Petty Officer 3 Rodriguez said they ignored bystanders talking to them or offering food and water to be able to perform their solemn duty to give honor to their former commander-in-chief. “Karangalan ng bansa na ang nakataya dito (The country’s honor was at stake here),” he said.

He added that he could not believe their efforts would catch public attention, including that of his wife Marissa and their three children.

Rodriguez said when they were thirsty, they simply drank rain water dripping from their faces.

Rodriguez added that at times, when they were about to break down, all four of them simply drew strength from the privilege given them to be by the late former president’s side, as well as from the thousands of well-wishers and supporters who showed up along the way.

“We have to perform some finger and foot exercises without being noticed so our muscles would not lock. Aside from being hungry, we just could not go to the toilet” Rodriguez said.

“When I got off the truck, I went to the police who all pointed to the portalets,” Rodriguez said, adding that after going to the restroom he proceeded to their service vehicle to eat packed food prepared for them.

When he returned to Navy headquarters Rodriguez said he was surprised to see his colleagues all cheering him and asking for his autograph.

Volunteer for duty

Laguindam, 24, volunteered to represent the Air Force in the honor guards after two of his colleagues were found to be unfit to stand as honor guards.

He said the first soldier was not that tall while the other one had just been hospitalized, “so I volunteered.”

Laguindam, a resident of Magalang, Pampanga, was very proud to perform his duty, especially for the former president.

“I am very proud, of course, because it was former President Aquino,” said Laguindam, who is detailed at the Air Force’s Honor Escort Battalion, which usually performs parade honors at Villamor Airbase.

Cadiente, 23, detailed at the Army’s Security and Escort Battalion based in Fort Bonifacio, said the tens of thousands of people watching and joining the funeral procession gave them strength for their job.

Cadiente said they were proud because they served a former commander-in-chief.

Meanwhile, Senators Rodolfo Biazon and Pia Cayetano said they were in favor of the proposal to grant commendations to the four honor guards.

“I’d agree to that,” Biazon said. “The best they can get is military commendation medal, non-combat, the highest military merit medal.”

Biazon believes that a military commendation medal award is appropriate for them and that there is no need for a congressional resolution.

Cayetano said she would file a resolution for their commendation, citing further that they were role models of what a public servant should be.

“They did their job well and I will file a resolution commending them because it is symbolic of what people in public service should do. Whatever your job is, do it well,” Cayetano said.

AFP cites honor guard brigade

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Office (PIO) chief, said a brigade of honor guards assembled to provide full military honors to Mrs. Aquino would be lauded by their respective mother units, the Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Philippine Navy (PN).

“For a job well done, commensurate awards and commendation will be accorded to the troops.”

Brawner said that while they are elated by the public response to Laguindam, Rodriguez and Cadiente, the AFP leadership will also commend all those who participated in the full military honors for the late president.

“The military leadership is not singling out our three personnel who stood as honor guards but all AFP participants during the honors rendered to former President Aquino. All of them will receive medals and commendations, commensurate to their duties,” Brawner said.

Aside from Metro Manila, AFP chief Gen. Victor Ibrado also ordered all key military commands in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to give the late president full military honors via a 21-gun salute. With Jaime Laude, Christina Mendez