4 honor guards surprised with accolades, cash reward

They only did what was expected of them – stand as stiff as a statue and guard former President Corazon Aquino’s cortege from Manila Cathedral to her final resting place at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque.

The four honor guards, who endured the 8-hour funeral procession on Wednesday, never thought that they would reap accolades, a Senate commendation and even cash reward.

On Friday, Airman Second Class Gener Laguindam, Navy Petty Officer 3 Edgardo Rodriguez, Police Officer 1 Danilo Malab Jr. and Private First Class Antonio Cadiente each received cash reward from former senator Agapito "Butz" Aquino, brother-in-law of the late President.

“Ito po ay pasasalamat ng pamilya at lahat ng nakiramay (This is a way of our family and others who expressed condolences to say thanks)," Aquino said.

The former lawmaker said the amount came from private individuals – businessmen, his former classmates, political allies, eating buddies – who wanted to give back to the four honor guards the respect they bestowed on Cory Aquino.

“Marami kasing humanga sa kanilang apat. Gusto lang nila makarating dun sa tangka nila (So many people were awed with what the four honor guards did and they want the reward to be directly given) where they intended to give it. That is my little role," he said.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said the four honor guards were unanimously chosen by the private citizens who gave the cash money.

"These gentlemen did not seek 15 minutes of fame, they sought nine hours of honor and duty. That is why we are giving them back the honor," Cayetano said.

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The four honor guards did not expect the attention they were getting after doing their job last Wednesday.

“Trabaho lang ma’am 'yun sa amin. Hindi namin alam na magkakaganito. Unexpected po talaga (We only did our job. We never expected these)," Laguindam told GMANews.TV after the awarding. He added that every single soldier will do what they did.

"Lahat naman kasi ng sundalo gagawin 'yung ginawa namin kasi military discipline naman. Kung sila ang nasa kalagayan ko gagawin nila 'yun. Nagkataon na lang na kami yung andun (The other soldiers will do the same because that is part of military discipline)," Laguindam said.

The 37-year old Rodriguez said the cash reward would be of great help to his family.

"Yung ibinigay sa aming cash reward malaking tulong sa pamilya ko. Sa mga gamit sa bahay, mga gamit ng mga anak ko (The cash reward would be a great help to my family. We could use it to buy some of our needs at home, things for my children)," said the father of three. When asked on the resolution that will be filed in Senate commending them, Rodriguez said that he is just happy that they are being recognized. Cadiente was equally surprised with the attention they were getting. “Hindi ko po in-expect na ganito pala yung mangyayari sa amin, hahangaan pala kami ng mga ibang tao kasi ang ano namin doon ay magduty lang talaga (I did not expect that we will get this much attention because we went there just to do our job)," he said, adding that he was proud of what he did and will do it again given the opportunity. He also thanked Senator Pilar Juliana Cayetano for initiating the resolution. For his part, Malab said it was enough that he was given the chance to serve the former President, her family and the Philippine National Police. “Ang inisip ko mapaglingkuran ang buong pamilya at buong organisasyon ng PNP, kasi ako lang ang nakatayo para sa PNP. Sa akin nakasalalay ang badge at uniporme ng PNP (My thoughts were centered on serving the family and the whole PNP because I’m the only one representing the police force there)," Malab said. The three other honor guards represented the AFP: Laguindam from the Philippine Air Force, Rodriguez from the Philippine Navy and Cadiente from the Philippine Army. Bringing back trust to the military Aquino, in a speech during the awarding of cash rewards, said what the four honor guards did brought back the trust of the Filipino people to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. GIVING BACK. Former Senator Agapito Aquino on Friday meets with the four honor guards who escorted the late 'Tita Cory' to her final resting place. Amita Legaspi“Bumabalik ang tiwala ng ating mga kababayan sa AFP, buong buo ang tiwala (The Filipino people are once again trusting the AFP)," he said. Sought for clarification on his statement, Aquino said when his brother, former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. was killed, there were doubts on the military’s participation in the assassination. “Yung tiwala mo sa military noon ay hindi buo, may duda. Alam naman namin na hindi lahat kasangkot pero may mga nasa military na nasangkot. Kaya yung tiwala sa military, kung 'yan ay nawala na noon o nagkaroon ng duda noon ay nabalik ngayon," he said. (The were doubts on the military before. We know not all of them were involved in the assassination but there were some. But now, these four honor guards, brought back the people’s trust in the armed forces.) “Malaking bagay yung magtitiwala tayo sa ating sariling AFP. Our AFP needs to be trusted by the people so that we can always support them and abide by whatever problems we face together," Aquino added. - GMANews.TV