MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has declared June 24 to July 3 as a period of national mourning over the passing of former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
The Philipinnes News Agency (PNA) reported presidential spokesman Harry Roque as saying in a statement last night that Duterte has signed Proclamation No. 1169 declaring a 10-day mourning period following the death of Aquino yesterday morning.
During the period of national mourning, Roque said the national flag will be flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset on all government buildings and installations throughout the Philippines and abroad.
PNA said Duterte also encouraged the public to pay tribute to the former president for his contributions to the country.
“Let us continue to pray and pay respects to the former president who gave his best to serve our nation and our people,” he said.
Prior to the proclamation, national flags in several areas in the country were lowered to honour the former president. At the Malacañan Palace, national flags were lowered about 1pm.
The Aquino family said the remains of the former president have been cremated at the Heritage Park in Taguig.
A mass will be held at the Ateneo de Manila University today while his burial will be held tomorrow at the Manila Memorial Park, where he will be laid beside his parents – former president Cory Aquino and former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.
The former president was pronounced dead at 6.30am yesterday due to renal disease secondary to diabetes.
He was the country’s 15th president from 2010 to 2016. Prior to assuming the presidency, he served as a senator from 2007 to 2010 and as a Congress representative of Tarlac 2nd District from 1998 to 2007. – Bernama, June 25, 2021
