MANILA – Malacañang has yet to announce whether President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will attend the wake or state funeral of the late President Fidel V. Ramos who died on Sunday.
“We have no confirmation of the President visiting the wake kasi hindi talaga natin ina-announce ‘yun for (because we do not really announce that for) security reasons,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in a Palace press briefing.
She, however, assured that the late president will be accorded a state funeral with full military honors.
“The state funeral is a right of the family of a deceased president so yes he will be accorded a state funeral with full military honors,” she added.
She said the state funeral will be set on August 9.
Earlier, Ramos' family said Ramos’ wake is set to start on Thursday until August 8.
Ramos’ grandson, Sam Ramos-Jones, said the wake would be at the Heritage Park in Taguig City.
The family set particular dates for visitors to help them "manage the flow of guests and better adhere to Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) precautions."
Ramos will be laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) at 10 a.m. on August 9.
Those who are buried in LNMB include Medal of Valor awardees; presidents; secretaries of national defense; chiefs of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); active and retired military personnel of the AFP who died in line of duty; veterans of Philippine Revolution, World War I, World War II and recognized guerrillas; government dignitaries and statesmen, and; national artists and scientists.
Ramos served as the country's 12th president from 1992 to 1998.
He was also chief of the then-Philippine Constabulary, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Secretary of the National Defense before becoming the country’s 12th president from 1992 to 1998.
Ramos was the second cousin of Marcos’ father, the late former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.
Marcos has declared July 31 to Aug. 9, 2022 as national days of mourning for Ramos.
PAF honors FVR
Meanwhile, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday said it honored the former Commander-in-Chief by flying all of the national flags at its bases and facilities to half-mast.
"The National Flag in all PAF bases are(all) in half-mast. Gun salute was accorded as per tradition and customs of the military to give due respect to the departed Commander-in-Chief, this (was) done in all bases," PAF spokesperson Col. Maynard Mariano said. (with reports from Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
