FVR to skip Cory burial at Manila Memorial Park

Former President Fidel Ramos said Wednesday he will not attend the burial of his predecessor Corazon Aquino at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City. While Ramos attended the requiem Mass for Mrs. Aquino at the Manila Cathedral earlier in the day, he said he could only participate in the funeral procession until Rizal Park. "No more because at age 81, no need to go to the station terminal because you're here in the departure area," Ramos jokingly told reporters when asked if he will proceed to the Manila Memorial Park. Ramos, who had learned about Cory's death only through the radio, earlier said that Cory was a great loss because she represented the past and future of the Filipinos. Ramos said Filipinos will forever be indebted to Mrs. Aquino for her role in the restoration of the country's democracy. During the last days leading to the fall of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986, Ramos joined then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and a group of disgruntled military officers and men in breaking away from the chain of command. At the time, Ramos was vice chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. When Mrs. Aquino assumed the presidency following the February 1986 EDSA people power revolution, Ramos was designated as military chief. After his retirement, he was named Defense Secretary. Throughout the tumultuous Aquino administration, Ramos stood by his commander-in-chief, defending her against attempts by mutinous soldiers who wanted to overthrow the government. In the 1992 presidential elections, Mrs. Aquino endorsed Ramos' candidacy over then House Speaker Ramon Mitra Jr. of the ruling Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino. Mrs. Aquino died August 1 after battling colon cancer for over a year. The official cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest. Thousands attended Mrs. Aquino's wake at La Salle Greenhills in Mandaluyong City and later on at the Manila Cathedral, mourning the loss of the nation's "mother." The remains of Mrs. Aquino will be buried beside that of her husband, former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. with reports from Candice Montenegro, Jayme Gatbonton GMANews.TV