Former Senator Rodolfo Biazon attends a Senate inquiry on the need for Senate’s concurrence on withdrawal/termination from treaties. He appeared at the chamber on February 20, 2020. INQUIRER.net file photo /CATHY MIRANDA
MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Rodolfo ‘Pong’ Biazon, who dedicated his life to defending freedom and democracy, died on Monday, his family announced.
He was 88 years old.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce that the bell has rung and the last Taps [have] been sung for General Rodolfo Gaspar Biazon,” said Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon in a statement.
“It is perfectly fitting that today, Independence Day, the soldier who dedicated his life and laid it on the line defending freedom and democracy has been set free from the pains of this world,” he added.
The mayor said the Biazon patriarch died at around 8:30 am.
The former senator was confined in the hospital since May 21 due to “serious pneumonia.”
According to the former lawmaker’s son, he was intubated from May 22 until June 3.
In July 2022, the former military official who transitioned into a political career was diagnosed with lung cancer, according to the mayor.
During Corazon “Cory” Aquino’s administration, the senior Biazon held the position of Chief of Staff for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
He was a senator from 1992 to 1995, re-elected in 1998, and served until 2010.
On Sunday, June 11, Mayor Biazon asked for prayers for his father, who was still in hospital.
Former senator Pong Biazon’s crucial role in PH history, demoracy
On February 25, 2016, Inquirer published “The Who’s Who’ of Edsa and where are they now?”
The former senator was described this way:
“A Marine commander based in Davao City who was convinced by businessman Chito Ayala to protect Corazon Aquino in her supposed civil disobedience campaign in the city.
Biazon’s aide had discovered the plans and received orders from higher-ups to shoot Biazon if he decided to defect.
Biazon was declared on the radio to have defected to the side of Enrile and Ramos.
But reports later revealed that he had actually not.
After the Edsa revolt, he became the commanding general of the Marines and eventually rose to become the AFP chief of staff in 1991.
Known as one of the military officers who stayed loyal to Aquino, he helped quash the 1987 and 1989 coup attempts staged by military rebels.
A year later, he won a seat in the Senate and held two consecutive terms from 1998 to 2010.
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The ‘Who’s who?’ of Edsa, and where they are now