Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — President Benigno Aquino III and some of his Cabinet members attended on Sunday (October 4) the funeral of his long-time bodyguard, PO3 Ryan “Bong” Fuyonan, in Santo Niño town in South Cotabato.
According to a statement issued by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Fuyonan died of pancreatic cancer last week at the age of 43. He was survived by his wife and seven-year-old daughter.
Aquino first attended the funeral mass held at Panay Alliance Church and then proceeded to Norala Cemetery, where the remains of Fuyonan were laid to rest.
Accompanying the president were Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior Secretary Mel Sarmiento, Mindanao Development Authority Chairperson Luwalhati Antonino, and Presidential Management Staff chief Julia Abad.
There was no media coverage of the burial because the Fuyonan family requested privacy.
Last Monday (September 28), Aquino also attended the necrological service for Fuyonan at the chapel inside the Presidential Security Group compound in Malacañan.
He gave an emotional eulogy, thanking Fuyonan for ensuring his safety since his days in Congress.
He described his aide as “humble, trustworthy, and efficient.”
In a Twitter post last week, the president’s sister, actress-TV host Kris Aquino, said Fuyonan had been with her brother since 2004, when he was still a member of the House of Representatives, through his years as a senator, and up to 2010, when Aquino became president.
“Thank you to Bong for the unwavering loyalty and service he gave our brother for 11 years,” she said.
According to the PCOO statement, Kris revealed that the president even gave Fuyonan a church wedding before he died.
Fuyonan was one of the close-in security aides whom Aquino mentioned in his final State of the Nation Address last July.
He hailed Fuyonan for securing US President Barack Obama and Pope Francis during their recent separate visits to the Philippines.
CNN Philippines’ correspondent Emily Daban contributed to this report.
