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'A great statesman': Senators, colleagues mourn passing of Biazon

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Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Former senator and military chief Rodolfo Biazon. Photo from Ruffy Biazon/Twitter " src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/12/20230612-biazon.jpg"/><figcaption>Former senator and military chief Rodolfo Biazon. Photo from Ruffy Biazon/Twitter </figcaption></figure></div>MANILA (2ND UPDATE) — Senators on Monday paid tribute to former lawmaker and military general Rodolfo Biazon, who passed away earlier in the day at the age of 88.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/12/23/former-senator-rodolfo-biazon-dies-at-88">Former senator, military general Rodolfo Biazon dies at 88</a></li></ul>Muntinlupa Mayor Rufino Biazon confirmed his father&#x27;s death &quot;at around 8:30 a.m.&quot; today after battling lung cancer for almost a year.&quot;This is a bittersweet Independence Day, as the nation mourns the passing of Senator Rodolfo Biazon, one of our staunchest defenders of the peace and democracy that we are enjoying today,&quot; Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said in a statement.Zubiri said it was a &quot;gift&quot; to have been a novice senator when Biazon was still in office. &quot;I had the great fortune of learning from him, and being inspired by his uncompromising public service... I am grateful for the time that we spent in the Senate together,&quot; Zubiri said.Sen. Bong Revilla also recalled campaigning and working with Biazon.&quot;I have had the honor of working with Senator Biazon beginning in 2004, at higit pa po ang aking karangalan na personal siyang makilala noong kami&#x27;y naging magkatuwang sa panganagampanya noon,&quot; he said.&quot;He is the embodiment of a true officer and gentleman who devoted his entire life to serving the Philippines and the Filipino people,&quot; Revilla added.Sen. Risa Hontiveros meanwhile recalled being inspired by &quot;Sen. Pong&quot; long before meeting him in person.&quot;Long before I met him in person, I read about Sen. Pong in an 1981 Who magazine feature about his being a Marines commander in Davao. I remember being taken by his critical mind and his respect for human rights, qualities essential for an officer and a gentleman,&quot; Hontiveros said.The senator said she admired how Biazon defied the &quot;macho&quot; stereotype of being a military man when he supported legislation for the benefit of Filipino women.&quot;Even before I became senator, Sen. Pong was a steady source of strength for us women and women’s advocates in our fight for the passage of the Reproductive Health Law. Regarded as macho due to his military background, he challenged stereotypes to stand not just for, but with women,&quot; she said.&quot;Together with the nation, I mourn the passing of a great soldier, statesman, and solon,&quot; she added.Senators Grace Poe, Chiz Escudero, and Loren Legarda also sent their condolences to the Biazon family.&quot;We lost an exemplar soldier and solon. His valuable work in fortifying the military institution and in lawmaking will not be forgotten,&quot; Poe said.&quot;I am deeply saddened by the passing of my former colleague in the Senate, a true officer and public servant who dedicated his life to public service,&quot; Legarda said.&quot;My sincerest condolences and prayers to the family and loved ones of Senator Rodolfo ‘Pong’ Biazon, a former colleague in the Senate and a fellow worker in government who served his country impeccably,” Escudero said.Senators Robin Padilla, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, and Jinggoy Estrada also paid tribute to Biazon and highlighted his legacy. &quot;I had the privilege of working alongside Sen. Pong Biazon during the 13th and 14th Congress... Sen. Biazon’s legacy will forever be remembered, and his contributions to our nation will continue to shape our future for generations to come,&quot; Estrada said.&quot;I remember the honor of having known Senator Pong Biazon— a public servant who stood tall for our Motherland&#x27;s democracy and freedom... His principles, both as a soldier and as a lawmaker, will be one legacy we will never forget. His place in our history is secure, and what he has left behind,&quot; Padilla said.&quot;He was one of my seatmates in the House of Representatives during the 15th Congress. At the time, he was an approachable senior colleague who never hesitated to provide advice and insight to younger lawmakers,&quot; Ejercito said.&quot;I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of Senator Rodolfo Biazon, a true patriot and a remarkable public servant whom I look up to and admire... May [the Biazon family] find solace in the knowledge that his legacy will continue to inspire and guide future generations of leaders in our nation,&quot; Gatchalian said.&quot;I will never forget the lessons he has taught me as well as his sense of humor which has been intact until his final days,&quot; Villanueva said.Former Vice President Leni Robredo also honored Biazon, who supported her presidential bid in the May 2022 elections.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/21/22/robredo-gets-endorsement-from-4-former-senators-12-govt-officials">4 former senators, 12 gov&#x27;t officials endorse Robredo for president</a></li></ul>&quot;Our profound gratitude to former Senator and AFP chief Rodolfo Biazon, who defended our democracy and served Filipinos with utmost integrity and courage. Saludo kami, Sir, sa paninindigan mo para sa bayan. My deepest condolences to Mayor Ruffy and to the Biazon family,&quot; Robredo said in a tweet.In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Biazon&#x27;s leadership and integrity &quot;will continue to inspire future generations of servicemen and public servants.&quot;&quot;General Biazon played a pivotal role in defending the country’s democracy and upholding the integrity of our armed forces. His commitment to public service extended into his political career, serving as a senator who championed key legislations that advocated for the welfare of our countrymen,&quot; said AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar.The AFP said it would provide military honors to the late General &quot;in recognition of his legacy and sacrifices as a soldier and head of the military.&quot;Biazon served as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during the administration of the late president Corazon Aquino in 1991. He then served as a senator in two stints, from 1992 to 1995 and then from 1998 to 2010.Later in his political career, Biazon would become the representative of Muntinlupa City&#x27;s sole congressional district from 2010 to 2016. This would be his final political stint.

Senators on Monday paid tribute to former lawmaker and military general Rodolfo Biazon, who passed away earlier in the day at the age of 88.

'A great statesman': Senators, colleagues mourn passing of Biazon

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'A great statesman': Senators, colleagues mourn passing of Biazon

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 12, 2023 01:16 PM PHT

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Updated June 12, 2023 11:45 PM PHT

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