(Photo courtesy of AFP)
MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday formally ended its mourning period and rendered its final tribute to the late president Fidel V. Ramos.
"AFP Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente O. Bacarro, led the ceremony at the AFP General Headquarters, which was simultaneously held at the headquarters of the Major Services, Unified Commands, and the Philippine Military Academy," AFP public affairs office chief Col. Jorry Baclor said in a statement Tuesday.
The military's mourning for the former president, defense secretary, and AFP chief started after the official reading of Ramos' death notice on July 31.
Three volleys were fired at 4:30 p.m. in honor of Ramos, who is also known as FVR, followed by the removal of mourning bands of military personnel. The ceremony ended with the lowering of the national flag.
"FVR, being a former military commander, prioritized establishing lasting peace in our country. We mark the end of military mourning in honor of a great statesman, a highly respected commander, and a model citizen of our nation," Bacarro said in his speech.
Ramos, the country's 12th president who served from 1992 to 1998, died on July 31 at the age of 94.
He was appointed as defense secretary by then president Corazon "Cory" Aquino and served from 1988 to 1991.
Ramos was born on March 18, 1928 in Lingayen, Pangasinan, and is a member of the United States Military Academy Class of 1950.
He was a member of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) and served in various military command positions throughout his long military career.
"It is our distinct honor and privilege to carry on the former commander in chief's aspiration of a truly united and progressive country, guided by patriotism and gallantry of the heroes who preceded us," Bacarro said. (PNA)
