File picture of Former Senator Rodolfo ‘Pong’ Biazon
MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives members led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez paid tribute to late former senator Rodolfo ‘Pong’ Biazon, saying that the former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff was a model citizen.
Romualdez, in a statement on Monday, said it is a fitting tribute to Biazon — a respected military leader — that God recalled him while the Philippines was commemorating its 125th Independence Day.
Biazon’s family, including Muntinlupa city mayor Ruffy Biazon, confirmed earlier that the former senator died after battling pneumonia.
He was also diagnosed with lung cancer.
Biazon was 88.
READ: Former Senator Rodolfo ‘Pong’ Biazon passes away
“A brave soul has been summoned back to God’s army on a day that we Filipinos associate with bravery. That is a fitting tribute to Pong Biazon by the Almighty, telling us to emulate the great Filipino that he was,” Romualdez said of Biazon, who was also a two-time member of the House.
“We send our deepest condolences and prayers to the Biazon family, especially to his widow Monserrat, and son Ruffy, who is also a former House colleague. We salute Pong Biazon for his inspiring and selfless service to the nation,” the House Speaker emphasized.
According to the Speaker, a lot of Filipinos can learn a lot from Biazon’s life, as the latter did not let hardships prevent him from reaching his dream.
“Biazon was a model citizen. He lost his father at seven years old and was forced to work to provide for himself and his siblings at such a young age,” Romualdez said.
“Poverty did not faze him. With sheer determination, he put himself through school to gain the education that he needed to be somebody. In the end, he became somebody that (we) would look up to,” the House leader stressed.
House Committee on national defense and security chairperson and Iloilo 5th District Rep. Raul Tupas also sent his condolences to Biazon’s bereaved family, calling the late former senator a soldier-statesman.
“Yes, he was a soldier-statesman. He had presence, with bearing honed and polished at the Philippine Military Academy and the Philippine Marines. He did not only command respect, but also earned it,” Tupas said.
“As a legislator, he used his brilliant, strategic and tactical mind and straightforward personality to convince Congress to pass landmark legislations like the AFP Modernization Act, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, the Rental Reform Act of 2002, and the Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter Finance Act among others,” he added.
READ: Rodolfo Biazon remembered: Senators hail his legacy on bittersweet Independence Day
Fellow Muntinlupa lawmaker Rep. Jaime Fresnedi also thanked Biazon for helping usher in improvements to the city.
“Dalawang terminong naglingkod bilang kinatawan ng Muntinlupa sa Kongreso si General Biazon kung saan naging malaki ang ginampanan niyang papel sa pagsusulong ng mga programa para sa mga Muntinlupeño, kabilang ang road construction, flood control, at iba pang infrastructure projects,” Fresnedi said.
(General Biazon served for two terms as Muntinlupa’s representative, where he played a great role in pushing for reforms and programs for Muntinlupa residents, like road construction, flood control, and other infrastructure projects.)
“Isang karangalan ang maglingkod kasama ang tulad ni General Biazon na may talas ng isip at pusong mapagmahal sa bayan. Snappy salute to a great soldier, statesman and solon. Rest in peace, General Biazon,” he added.
(It is a great honor to serve alongside General Biazon, who was sharply intelligent and who loved the country at the same time. Snappy salute to a great soldier, statesman and solon. Rest in peace, General Biazon.)
Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman remembered Biazon as a strong advocate of the Reproductive Health Bill, and a firm supporter of the Philippines’ claim to the West Philippine Sea.
“The late Senator Rodolfo Biazon was an ardent advocate of the Reproductive Health Law. His invaluable support in the Senate assured its passage in 2012,” Lagman said.
“I also recall his firm stand against China’s incursion in the West Philippine Sea. His many legislative measures which are now statutes rank high in the hierarchy of Philippine legislation,” he added.
Despite being the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1961 “goat” — or one of the lowest-ranked cadets of his batch — Biazon moved up the ranks, eventually becoming AFP’s 21st chief of staff.
After his service in the military, Biazon became a civil servant, serving in the Senate from 1992 to 1995, and then in 1998 to 2010.
He was also a House member from 2010 to 2016.
Some of Biazon’s work at the legislature resulted into the enactment of the following laws:
Republic Act No. 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act)
RA No. 9161 (reforming the renting industry)
RA No. 7835 (Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter Finance Act)
RA No. 7898 (An Act providing for the Modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines)
RA No. 7742 (changing the mandatory membership to Pag-Ibig Fund)
RA No. 7889 (establishing the University of the Philippines – Mindanao)
RA No. 7863 (Home Guaranty Corporation Law)
RA No. 7691 (expanding the Jurisdiction of MTCs, MCTCs and METCs)
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