Malacañang said Wednesday the Philippine government is set to hold a State funeral for former President Fidel V. Ramos on Tuesday, 9 August.
“He will be accorded a state funeral with full military honors,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in a press briefing, adding that holding a state funeral is the “right of the family of the deceased president.”
Citing “security reasons”, Angeles did not disclose when President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. intends to visit the wake of the former Chief Executive, who passed away at the age of 94 on 31 July.
Ramos, a former military general, served as president from 1992 to 1998 after the late former president Corazon Aquino.
He also served as the Secretary of National Defense from 1988 to 1991, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from 1986 to 1988, and Chief of the Philippine Constabulary from 1972 to 1986.
Ramos, who was a key figure in the pro-democracy uprising that ousted Marcos Jr.’s father, the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr., is remembered as the founder of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) and the Philippine Army’s Special Forces Regiment.
Marcos Jr. has declared 31 July to 9 August 2022 as national days of mourning over Ramos’s demise with Proclamation No. 33 released by the Office of the President on 1 August to honor the former President for 10 days.
Marcos Sr.’s paternal grandfather, Fabian Marcos, and Ramos’ maternal grandmother, Crispina Marcos-Valdez, were siblings.
A State funeral is a public ceremony that observed the strict rules of protocol to honor people of national significance.
Ramos’ remains lie in state at the Heritage Park in Taguig City where the wake will officially commence today, 4 August.
His inurnment will be at the Libingan ng mga Bayani at 10 a.m., 9 August.