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Ex-President Noynoy Aquino laid to rest at Manila Memorial Park


Former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Saturday afternoon was laid to rest, two days after he died due to renal disease secondary to diabetes.

At exactly 1:43 p.m. his urn was put inside the tomb by Noynoy’s youngest sibling, actress and television host Kris Aquino.

Noynoy's ashes were placed beside the tombs of his parents, democracy icons former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino.

The songs “Bayan Ko” and “The Impossible Dream (The Quest)" were played live after the inurnment.

Before the inurnment, the hymn of Ateneo de Manila University was played. Aquino spent his elementary to tertiary education at the said university.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas then led the final prayers for Aquino.

After the final prayer, the Philippine flag was held by the honor guards on top of his urn while the AFP officials gave their final salutes.

Another 21-gun salute was offered, after which, the Philippine flag was folded by members of the military.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff General Cirilito Sobejana gave the folded Philippine flag to Aquino’s sister Ballsy Aquino-Cruz.

Some political personalities seen at Manila Memorial Park were Vice President Leni Robredo, Senator Francis Pangilinan, former Senator Bam Aquino, Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman and former Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares, according to GMA News’ Mav Gonzales.

Aquino’s dog, Apollo, was also present at the inurnment rite. The German Shepherd was part of the final inspection at Manila Memorial Park, according to GMA News’ Sandra Aguinaldo. Apollo was trained as a K-9 sniffer dog.

 

Before the inurnment, full military honors were given to the country’s former chief executive.

His urn was welcomed by Sobejana and Philippine National Police chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar.

The national anthem was played by a band while the military gave a 21-gun salute to their former commander-in-chief as part of the arrival honors.

After that, the urn was brought by the honor guards to a funeral carriage bedecked with yellow flowers.

A funeral march, participated by high-ranking AFP officials, was given in honor of the former chief executive.

Yellow flowers were dropped by a Philippine Air Force helicopter before the funeral march started.

Another water salute was given to Aquino during the procession. —KG/LBG, GMA News

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