MANILA, Philippines—What most rookie cops take years to achieve, he did in just about nine hours.

Danilo Malab Jr. earned a promotion, a medal, a new sidearm, and a cash award Monday for what the Philippine National Police (PNP) hailed as “exemplary performance” during the Aug. 5 funeral of former President Corazon Aquino.

In rites held at Camp Crame, the 25-year-old Isabela native—one of the four members of the honor guard who stood at attention for hours on the flower-decked truck that bore Aquino’s casket—rose in rank from Police Officer 1 to 2.

At Camp Aguinaldo, the Armed Forces of the Philippines also recognized Malab’s counterparts in the military, including another set of escorts whose “performance” was apparently overshadowed by the Aug. 5 team.

Private First Class Rico Seno, Seaman First Class Arturo Roadilla Jr. and Airman First Class Sherwin del Rosario also stood on the same truck for about five hours on Aug. 3, when Aquino’s remains were transferred from La Salle Green Hills to Manila Cathedral.

Other escorts

The AFP found them equally deserving of praise. Together with Private First Class Antonio Cadiente, Airman 2nd Class Gener Laguindam and Petty Officer 3 Edgardo Rodriguez (the three guards who served at the funeral march), Seno, Roadilla, and Del Rosario received medals and plaques of recognition Monday.

“We would also like to recognize not just these soldiers, but all those involved in the event. They have earned distinct honor not only for themselves but for the whole AFP,” AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang said during the awarding rites.

Aside from the spot promotion, PO2 Malab also received a PNP Efficiency Medal (Medalya ng Kasanayan) and an initial deposit of P10,000 in a new account with the Public Safety Savings and Loan Association Inc., a credit facility for police officers.

PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa also gave Malab a new cal. 45 service pistol.

Malab and the three other escorts from the AFP earlier received P25,000 each from a group of businessmen and Agapito “Butz” Aquino, brother-in-law of the late former President.

Driver hailed too

The PNP is also considering the promotion of more than 20 other members of the PNP honor guard who took part in the funeral rites, Verzosa said.

Also Monday, Sen. Lito Lapid filed a resolution commending not only the honor guard in the Aquino cortege but also the truck driver, Jerry Orbiso, for carrying out his task “with no complaints.”

Orbiso drove the flatbed truck for 22 km, inching his way through hundreds of thousands of mourners, from Manila Cathedral in Intramuros to Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.

He was also the driver who brought Aquino’s remains from La Salle Green Hills to the cathedral on Aug. 3.

Employed by Harbour-Link Transport Inc. which pays him P400 a day, Orbiso earlier remarked in a Philippine Daily Inquirer interview: “I will never forget those two days when I had the privilege to serve the most loved woman in the Philippines.” With a report from Christine Avendaño