P-Noy to confer Quezon Service Cross on Robredo today

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will lead the conferment of the Quezon Service Cross award on the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo today in recognition of his service in government.

The event coincides with the 100th day of the death of Robredo, who died in a plane crash off Masbate on Aug. 18.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said over radio station dzRB the Quezon Service Cross is the highest honor a Filipino can receive from the government.

“It is an award bestowed with the approved concurrence of the two Houses of Congress,” Lacierda said.

The Quezon Service Cross was proposed by former President Manuel Roxas to give another former President, Manuel Quezon, highest honor.

In August of 1946, Roxas submitted a proposed Joint Resolution to Congress for the creation of the Quezon Service Cross. Joint Resolution No. 4 s. 1946 enacted by both houses of Congress established the award.

Although Congress was abolished upon the declaration of martial law during the time of then President Ferdinand Marcos, the Quezon Service Cross remained but was not awarded to any individual.

Executive Order No. 236 issued in 2003 retained the original intention of Roxas to have the Quezon Service Cross as the highest decoration of the Philippines.

In the Order of Precedence of Philippine Honors and State Decorations, the Quezon Service Cross is the top recognition a Filipino can receive from the Republic.

Three individuals were awarded prior to the abolition of the Third Republic in 1972.

Since its creation in 1946, only four people, to date, have been awarded the Quezon Service Cross. They were former President of the United Nation General Assembly Carlos Romulo, former Presidents Emilio Aguinaldo and Ramon Magsaysay, and the late senator Benigno Aquino Jr.