MANILA, Philippines — The four honor guards who received heaps of praise and recognition as they stood immobile on a flatbed truck carrying the casket of former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino during her funeral procession received P25,000 each for “nine hours of honor and duty,” raised by grateful businessmen and former senator Agapito “Butz” Aquino.
For almost nine hours, the four honor guards—Police Officer 1 Danilo Malab Jr., Petty Officer 3 Edgardo Rodriguez, Airman 2nd Class Gener Laquindam and Private 1st Class Antonio Cadiente—stayed motionless, without taking a break for meals or going to the toilet, as the truck brought the casket of the former president through a 23-kilometer route from the Manila Cathedral to Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.
“Many sacrificed, but we cannot reward them all,” said Butz, Aquino, younger brother of the former president’s husband, Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
“What they did seem ordinary to us. But try standing up for hours on the truck without moving and you’d see how difficult it was,” he said.
Changing AFP image
By rewarding the guards, they were trying to change the image of the military and police who implemented martial law during Ninoy’s time, Aquino added.
He said the suggestion of coming up with a reward came from businessmen he met with every Wednesday. “The sentiments were unanimous. Everybody wanted to say thank you,” he said.
“We should keep the ball rolling,” added Greg Garcia, a businessman who accompanied Aquino during the turnover at a Makati City restaurant Friday
He added that although praises and promotions were psychic rewards, a bit of monetary help could mean a lot for men in uniform who earn only around P11,000 monthly.
Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano and Metro Manila police commander Roberto Rosales were also around to congratulate the four.
Not 15 minutes of fame
“This is not about what your assignment is but how you do it,” Cayetano said. “What they did was not 15 minutes of fame but nine hours of honor and duty.”
The four have become instant celebrities, with people swarming around them, shaking their hands and taking photographs.
At Camp Crame’s weekly forum Friday, Malab attributed his capacity to endure the nine-hour journey to “maximum tolerance,” a crowd control policy adopted by the military and police especially during mass demonstrations or rallies.
“People threw coins—one-peso coins, 25 centavos at us, often hitting me in the face. It hurt but I just practiced maximum tolerance,” Malab said.
“I was tired but I had to overcome the feeling because I was representing the PNP uniform and badge,” said the 25-year-old Isabela native, who entered the service just a year ago. “I only did my job.”
Senior Insp. Jesus Manalo Jr., chief of the PNP Escort and Honor Guard Service, said he chose Malab because of his height (5’9”), his youth and physical fitness.
The Escort and Honor Guard Service, a unit under Camp Crame’s Headquarters Support Service, began security and honor preparations for Aquino in coordination with the military and the Aquino family a week before she passed on Aug. 1, he added.
20 female guards also honored
Malab and 20 female honor guards who took part in rites to honor the late former president will also be recognized Monday morning in Camp Crame, said PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Leonardo Espina.
The Aquino family will personally thank the four soldiers on Aug. 21, the 26th anniversary of Ninoy’s assassination, according to a text message sent to Inquirer Friday by Cory’s son-in-law, Eldon Cruz.
They will also thank Private 1st Class Rico Seno, Airman 1st Class Sherwin del Rosario, Sgt. Carlo Tiongson, EM3 Samuel Fuertes and SN1 Arturo Roadilla—the five soldiers who stood guard by the former president’s casket when it was moved from La Salle Green Hills in San Juan City to the Manila Cathedral on Aug. 3.
Aquino was buried beside her husband, Ninoy, on the site where the family gathers every Aug. 21 in a memorial for the senator who was assassinated in 1983.
