MINDANAO PAGADIAN FRONTLINE: AFP culminates 30-day mourning for former Commander-in-Chief

Sunday, July 25, 2021

AFP culminates 30-day mourning for former Commander-in-Chief

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (July25, 2021) — All units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines participated in the simultaneous culmination of the 30-day military mourning for the late Former Commander-in-Chief President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, who died on June 24, 2021, at the age of 61.

Officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian human resources of the Western Mindanao Command gathered at the Command Headquarters in Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga city to take part in the ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 24

A three-volley salute was simultaneously carried out to honor the late Former President Aquino.

“The men and women of the AFP offer the Former President and Commander-in-Chief our final snappiest salute,” Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Chief of Staff of the AFP stated in a message read by WestMinCom’s Deputy Commander for Operations, Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas.

The removal of mourning band was also performed during the ceremony. Mourning band is a black band worn at the sleeve of the military uniform as a sign of respect and mourning for the late former Commander-in-Chief.

“As the mandated defenders of the state and the Filipino people, it shall be our distinct honor and privilege to carry on with the Former Commander-in-Chief’s aspiration of a truly peaceful and progressive Philippines,” said Gen. Sobejana.

“President Benigno Aquino III’s initiatives and advocacies to professionalize and modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines shall not be forgotten,” he added.