FOUR days before his death, the late press secretary Cerge Remonde became a lieutenant colonel in the Army’s Reservists’ Corps, a commission he applied for late last year.
Unfortunately, no one told Remonde his application had been granted.
Before the 51-year-old former Cabinet official was buried in Argao town yesterday, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Victor Ibrado conferred the rank of reserve
lieutenant colonel on him.
Remonde’s wife Marit and brother Hermes Alburo received the late press secretary’s uniform, insignia and certification.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Romeo Brawner and Philippine Army spokesman Arnulfo Burgos said the commissionship was signed and approved last Jan. 15.
But Remonde had not been informed when he died of cardiac arrest last Jan. 19.
Remonde applied last October, but delays in the submission of requirements like an authenticated birth certificate from the National Statistic Office prolonged the process.
As an officer of the reservists’ corps, Remonde was accorded military honors.
Apart from that, the Municipal Government of Argao may soon name two landmarks after the late press secretary.
Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos, in an interview, said that should President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approve their proposal, a market and mall to be established in the middle of the business district of the town may be named after Remonde.
A street may also be named after the former broadcaster and government official.
Galeos said that when President Arroyo approved the building of the President Diosdado Macapagal Sports and Cultural Center, he had proposed to name the building after Remonde.
However, Remonde, who was then the director of the Presidential Management Staff, refused and suggested naming it after the President’s father instead.
“Maybe this time, Cerge will finally allow that his name will remain remembered here in Argao,” said Galeos. (JKV/Sunnex)