The family of former Filipino General and Senator Rodolfo Biazon announced his death Monday at the age of 88. Biazon was well known for his part in thwarting several coup attempts during the presidency of Corazon Aquino, the most significant of which was in 1989.

"It is with deep sadness that we announce that the bell has rung, and the last Taps has been [played] for [my father]," wrote Rufino Biazon, the late statesman's son, on Facebook and Twitter.

The younger Biazon added it was "perfectly fitting" his father died on the morning of June 12, a Philippine public holiday celebrating the country's declaration of independence in 1898. "[T]he soldier who dedicated his life and laid it on the line in defending freedom and democracy has been set free from the pains of this world," he said.

According to local media, Biazon has been under medical treatment for lung cancer since July 2022 and caught pneumonia twice this year. His son remarked his father "courageously fought his last battle like a Marine would."

From 'Goat' to General

Biazon was born of humble origins in 1935 in the northern Luzon province of Ilocos Norte as a son of a baker and a laundry woman. Like many other families during the 1940s, he and his family experienced hardship under the Japanese during World War II and poverty afterward, and he only started basic education when he was 11 in 1946. He eventually graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1961 as the "class goat," the lowest-ranking cadet of his class based on academics.

His career as a serviceman was first highlighted when he was assigned to Davao, the largest city in Mindanao island, in 1983. His time there saw the public's renewed trust and confidence in the military after years of being perceived as oppressive and abusive.

Biazon also attended other training programs during his military career, including the US Army Command and General Staff Course and the US Marines Amphibious Warfare Course in Quantico, Virginia, as well as the Allied Combat Intelligence Course in Okinawa, Japan.

Despite his poor academic performance, he rose to the ranks and became the superintendent of his alma mater from 1986 to 1987, as well as becoming the commanding general of the Philippine Marine Corps in 1987. The following year, Biazon was appointed to head the National Capital Region Defense Command, which is responsible for the territorial security of Manila and its suburbs.

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From General to Statesman

During his role as commander of forces within Manila, he remained loyal to Aquino's government and played a decisive role in crushing the military coup attempt against her in 1989.

Biazon was thrust into the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), becoming its vice chief of staff in 1990 and chief of staff in 1991, the only one so far coming from the Philippine Marines.

During his military career, he received 26 personal and campaign medals, including the Distinguished Service Star, Gold Cross Medal, Outstanding Achievement Medal, and Bronze Cross Medal.

Upon retiring from military service, Biazon entered politics as a senator from 1992 to 1995 and from 1998 to 2010. He then represented the Manila suburb city of Muntinlupa in the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2016.

During his time in office, he championed the concerns regarding national defense and security, as well as in urban planning, housing, and resettlement. One of the laws he authored was Republic Act 7898, or the AFP Modernization Act of 1995.

A Statesman's Fitting Farewell

The Philippine Department of National Defense released a statement saying Biazon left "a legacy worthy of emulation by current and future generations of Filipinos."

"Throughout his decades-long service to the Filipino nation, Senator Biazon embodied patriotism, integrity, and commitment to the protection of the country's freedom and its democratic institutions," it added.

The AFP also honored its former chief of staff for his "pivotal role" during the 1989 coup attempt. "General Biazon played a pivotal role in defending the country's democracy and upholding the integrity of our armed forces," said AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar. "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."

Colleagues from both houses of the Philippine Congress also remembered Biazon. In a statement, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said Biazon's death on June 12 was "a fitting tribute...by the Almighty." Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri lamented Biazon's passing as "a bittersweet Independence Day" and called him "one of [the] staunchest defenders of the peace and democracy that we are enjoying today."

Progressive-leaning legislators particularly paid tribute to Biazon for upholding Philippine sovereignty against Chinese aggression, particularly in the South China Sea. Albay representative Edcel Lagman lauded him for "his firm stand against China's incursion in the West Philippine Sea," while senator Risa Hontiveros commended his call on the country's authorities "to take a united position against China."

"Time and again, when he saw that our nation was in peril, he stepped out from his private life and gave us public servants clarity and a sense of direction," she added.

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