Ex-Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Balajadia passes away

Former Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Jose Balajadia Jr. has passed away on Sunday, his nephew Bong Reyes confirmed to GMA News Online.

Balajadia's son Jet told GMA News his father passed away due to heart failure at 12:50 a.m. at Baguio General Hospital in Baguio City.

The wake for Balajadia will be held at St. Peter Chapel on Marcos Highway in Baguio City until Wednesday, July 10, at 8 p.m.

His remains will then be airlifted on Thursday morning to Villamor Air Base for a military wake until his burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

No date has yet been set for his burial, Jet said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Balajadia "was suffering from a number of ailments lately. Prostate was one big problem.”

He added that Balajadia already resigned from his post on June 30.

Senator Richard Gordon conveyed his condolences to the family.

"Mabuting tao. Napakabait. Palagi kong kabiruan. Rest in peace," Gordon said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

The retired Philippine Air Force major general, as Senate sergeant-at-arms, escorted Senator Leila De Lima when she was arrested in 2017 for alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

He also escorted Senator Antonio Trillanes IV during his arrest in 2018 after President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation No. 572 which revoked Trillanes' amnesty over charges of coup d'etat for the 2003 Oakwood mutiny. —KG, GMA News