ROBREDO WAKE BEGINS IN NAGA CITY ARCHBISHOP'S
PALACE / BURIAL WILL BE IN NAGA CITY
[PHOTO FROM SKYSCRAPERSCITY -ROBREDO'S WAKE] ]
MANILA, AUGUST 25, 2012 (STANDARD) Residents of Naga City lined up
outside the Archbishop's Palace to pay their respects to their late former mayor
and Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, after his remains were brought there late
Tuesday.
The residents recalled the small but important reforms Robredo put in place
when he was mayor, according to a report by radio dzBB's Manny Vargas.
Security was tight at the Archbishop's Palace, with media covering the event
kept at a distance.
Robredo's casket was closed, but near it was a collage of smaller photos that
formed an image of a smiling Robredo, the report said.
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Masses were scheduled at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., the report added.
The report said the residents recalled Robredo's simple lifestyle and his
being accessible. Many referred to him as "Pogi," a Filipino word meaning
"handsome."
Among Robredo's "legacies" were residents learning not to litter, and
nightclubs operating without the music blaring through the neighborhoods.
Robredo's remains were recovered Tuesday from a Piper aircraft that crashed
off Masbate while en route to Naga from Cebu last Saturday.
The plane's pilot and co-pilot also died in the crash. Only Robredo's aide
survived the incident.
On Tuesday night, Robredo's remains were brought to the Archbishop's Palace,
with his fraternity "brods" among those accompanying the remains. — ELR, GMA News
Naga folk line streets to send off Robredo remains to Manila
August 24, 2012 7:33am
[PHOTO- ATENEO DE NAGA UNIOVERSITY CELEBRATES WAKE IN NAGA
CITY]
Residents lined the streets of Naga City early Friday to send off the remains
of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, which were to be brought to Manila
for two days.
The residents showed up at the roads along the route of the funeral cortège,
from the Archbishop's Palace to the Naga Airport, radio dzBB's Allan Gatus
reported.
Before dawn Friday, many residents had continued to flock to the Archbishop's
Palace to pay their respects to Robredo, whose remains had been there since
Tuesday night.
Robredo had served as mayor of Naga City for 19 years.
In Manila, dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported the Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority made early preparations for the arrival of Robredo's remains at the
Villamor Air Base, to make sure the route between the air base and Malacañan
Palace was clear.
Robredo died in a plane crash in Masbate last Aug. 18, while heading for Naga
City from Cebu. The crash also killed the pilot and co-pilot. Only his aide
survived the accident.
His death prompted President Benigno Aquino III to call for a period of
mourning. — LBG, GMA News
Residents lined the streets of Naga City early Friday to send off the remains
of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, which were to be brought to Manila
for two days.
The residents showed up at the roads along the route of the funeral cortège,
from the Archbishop's Palace to the Naga Airport, radio dzBB's Allan Gatus
reported.
Before dawn Friday, many residents had continued to flock to the Archbishop's
Palace to pay their respects to Robredo, whose remains had been there since
Tuesday night.
Robredo had served as mayor of Naga City for 19 years.
In Manila, dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported the Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority made early preparations for the arrival of Robredo's remains at the
Villamor Air Base, to make sure the route between the air base and Malacañan
Palace was clear.
Robredo died in a plane crash in Masbate last Aug. 18, while heading for Naga
City from Cebu. The crash also killed the pilot and co-pilot. Only his aide
survived the accident.
His death prompted President Benigno Aquino III to call for a period of
mourning. — LBG, GMA News
FROM THE INQUIRER
Widow says Robredo will be buried in Naga City By
Juan Escandor Jr. Inquirer Southern Luzon 9:43 pm | Thursday, August 23rd, 2012
[PHOTO -Leni Robredo, widow of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo,
consoles their daughters during a mass at the Archbishop's palace in Naga City.
Agence France-Presse]
NAGA CITY, Philippines—Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo would have wanted to
be laid to rest in his hometown of Naga City in Camarines Sur.
For this reason, his widow Leni has declined the government's offer to bury
her husband in the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes' Cemetery) in Taguig City.
"First of all, we feel very honored that the Libingan ng mga Bayani was
offered but we are very sure that Jesse would prefer to be buried here. Naga has
always been his home. He always tells me this is his happy place … Palagay ko (I
think) we will be doing him a great disservice pag hindi siya dito nilibing (if
he is not buried here)," Leni told the media in a press conference held here
past 10 a.m. Thursday.
Accompanied by eldest daughter Aika, 24, and Secretary Ricky Carandang, Leni
also revealed the thread of communication between her and the secretary in the
hours before the 6-seater Piper Seneca plane carrying him, his aide and two
pilots crashed in the waters off Masbate City on Saturday afternoon.
She said the text messages and calls between her and her husband that fateful
day were more than their usual daily exchanges, which normally would be 10 to 20
text messages and calls.
Leni said they were exchanging information about their youngest daughter,
13-year-old Jillian, who received awards in a swimming competition that day.
"He was flying to Cebu, while we were having an event. I would update him on
how the occasion was turning out. He was happy when he called; he wanted to talk
to my daughter (Jillian) to congratulate her. All throughout, that was the tenor
of our conversation," she narrated in a mix of English and Filipino.
Leni said Robredo wanted to be home because he thought the event would end at
5 p.m.–but it ended at 2 p.m.
He knew that the swimming competition was finished so she thought he would
not push through with his plan to come home that Saturday.
But she later learned from Robredo's staff that he was still going home to
Naga.
Leni said it was not unusual for Robredo to always surprise them because he
was very happy when he did that, or when they thought he was not going to make
it but he would be there.
She said that at 3:15 p.m., she texted her husband to confirm the information
from the staff that he was still going home and he answered "yes."
As she was always the one fetching Roredo from the airport, Leni left their
house at about 3:40 p.m. and drove to Naga Airport in Pili town.
Leni said Robredo advised her to take her time because he expected to arrive
at 4:15 p.m.
As Leni neared the airport, Robredo texted her to say that the plane was
going back to Cebu, prompting her to ask why. He did not answer but later texted
her, saying "balik ang plane sa Cebu (plane is heading back to Cebu)."
Leni said she was waiting for his instruction on whether she should stay and
wait at the airport, or go home first and come back later. But there was no
reply so she texted: "Tawag ako ng tawag sa iyo, di ka sumasagot (I kept calling
you but you're not answering)."
At that point Robredo replied, saying he was having difficulty with the
signal. She then decided to drive back home.
Leni again contacted her husband at about 4:40 p.m.—based on the log on her
cellphone–and he answered that he was busy with something and that he would call
her back.
"It was a very calm voice, as if I was calling him while he was in the middle
of the meeting. He said 'I'll just call you' so I told him okay," she narrated.
Leni said she did not call her husband again because she thought he had
already landed in Cebu and was busy trying to find a ticket for a commercial
flight.
She said that between 4:55 to 5 p.m., a call from Robredo's security in
Manila who informed her that her husband had called asking for assistance to
clear Masbate airport because they were going to make an emergency landing.
Leni learned that Robredo was able to have the Masbate airport cleared with
local government officials already there but news came that a plane was seen
crashing into the sea.
She said she told the security aide on the phone that the plane that crashed
might be Robredo's.
By then, she was almost sure that the plane that crashed was carrying her
husband and proceeded to tell Jillian, who was with her, to pray because
"something might have happened to Papa's plane."
She also called her daughter Aika, who was then at Araneta Coliseum in Quezon
City watching a UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines)
basketball game, and instructed her to pick up Patricia, their second daughter.
"… Jillian was already crying, and was asking can we go to church?' I told
her in my condition … I don't think I can drive. It felt like my legs turned to
jelly," Leni recalled.
She called her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law to inform them of what she
feared had happened to Robredo.
Soon after, Naga City Mayor John Bongat arrived at her house, as did several
local government officials until the crowd of concerned relatives, friends and
political allies grew bigger, numbering over a hundred by nightfall.
Leni said that as of Thursday morning, Robredo's elderly parents had yet to
be told about their son's death.
She said she also called up retired police officer Gil Abrazado, the father
of lone crash survivor and Robredo aide Chief Inspector June Paolo Abrazado, to
convey her thanks to the aide and express her family's gratitude for his concern
for her husband.
Regarding the move in Congress to posthumously confirm Robredo as Interior
and Local Government secretary, Leni said her husband was not really bothered by
whether or not he would be confirmed by the Commission on Appointment.
He also told her not to bother doing the nine-day novena to the Our Lady of
Peñafrancia that she had intended for his confirmation hearing set on August 29
and instead told her to pray for one of their daughters, who was having her
midterm exams.
For Robredo, what was more important was that he was doing his job well, said
Leni.
She said she wanted her husband to be remembered by continuing his
initiatives for reform and she wished that the seeds he had planted would grow.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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