“He passed on this Independence Day, a reminder of his formidable, lifelong fight for our Inang Bayan.”

Ito ang pahayag ni Senador Risa Hontiveros sa naging pagpanaw ni dating senador Rodolfo Biazon na tinawag niyang “great soldier, statesman, and solon.”

Nitong Lunes, Hunyo 12, nang kumpirmahin ng kaniyang anak na si Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon ang pagpanaw ng dating senador sa edad na 88.

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Ayon kay Hontiveros, tunay na maraming masasabi tungkol sa lahat ng nagawa ni Biazon para sa sambayanang Pilipino, mula umano sa kaniyang panahon bilang isang Philippine Marine hanggang sa kaniyang mga taon sa Kongreso. Gayunpaman, aniya, ang nananatiling totoo sa kabuuan ay ang walang patid na pagmamahal nito sa bansa.

“Long before I met him in person, I read about Sen. Pong in an 1981 Who magazine feature about his being a Marines commander in Davao. I remember being taken by his critical mind and his respect for human rights, qualities essential for an officer and a gentleman,” pagbabalik-tanaw ni Hontiveros.

“Years later, I finally met him at the EDSA Shrine just when EDSA Dos was unfolding. It was unforgettable not only because he had a crushing handshake, but also because it was the start of the many struggles we fought together.”

Sinabi rin ng senador na isang tunay na makabayan si Biazon, lalo na’t kahit wala na umano ito sa pwesto noon, palagi pa rin niyang sinasagot ang tawag ng tungkulin.

“When the former administration could not express a clear stance vis-a-vis China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea, Sen. Pong did not hold back from calling on our top officials to take a united position against China,” ani Hontiveros.

“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,” dagdag niya.

Ibinahagi rin ni Hontiveros na bago pa siya naging senador, nagsilbi na umanong matatag na mapagkukunan ng lakas si Biazon para sa mga babae at mga tagapagtaguyod ng kababaihan sa kanilang laban para sa pagpapasa ng Reproductive Health Law.

“Regarded as macho due to his military background, he challenged stereotypes to stand not just for, but with women.

“That was the Sen. Pong I knew — never afraid to stand up and speak out for what is right even when others wouldn’t,” ani Hontiveros.

“Paalam, Sir. Maraming salamat sa walang hanggang pagmamahal sa Pilipinas.