Tributes pour in for late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo

Published August 21, 2012 10:00am

(Updated 2:00 p.m.) - Tributes poured in on Tuesday for the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo after authorities confirmed his death in a plane crash off Masbate. Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas confirmed on Tuesday morning that the body of Robredo was found at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, 800 meters from the shore of Masbate. In a press briefing, Roxas said Robredo’s body was found at a depth of 180 feet inside the fuselage of the small Piper plane that carried him and three others on Saturday.

"Yung unang sumabak na mga tech divers 'yung mga puti na nakita natin kahapon, si Matt at ang kanyang team na dalawang babae. At 8:15, kumpirmado na 'yung isa sa mga katawan ay 'yung kay Sec. Jess Robredo," Roxas said. Retired archbishop Oscar Cruz called for a hero’s burial for Robredo, whose body was retrieved from the fuselage of the plane. “Maraming pasasalamat at natagpuan din. (Sana) mabigyan siya ng disenteng paglilibing, sana malagay sa Libingan ng Mga Bayani,” Cruz said in an interview over radio dzBB. Cruz had lauded Robredo for not abusing his powers and for remaining untainted by corruption. As Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Robredo supervised the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended its condolences to the family of Robredo, saying in a statement: "We join the Filipino nation in mourning the passing of Secretary Robredo. We send our condolences to his bereaved family."

The high court acknowledged Robredo's role as an "indispensable partner in judicial reform."

"He was a member of the Justice Sector Coordinating Council and ex officio Chair of the National Police Commission, whose Technical Committee on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice System includes representation from the Court pillar," the SC said.

Created in April 2010, the JSCC is a joint effort among the SC, the DILG and the Department of Justice, seeking to create a coordinated approach to justice sector policy making, planning, and operations.

Before being appointed as secretary of the DILG in 2010, Robredo served for more than 18 years starting in 1988 as mayor of Camarines Sur's Naga City, which was named by Asiaweek as one of the "Most Improved Cities in Asia" in 1999.

One of PHL's finest servant-leaders

Vice President Jejomar Binay, via Facebook, said: "I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Sec. Robredo. I urge everyone to pray for them, that they trust God’s plan for all of us. They need our wholehearted prayers and support."

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said with Robredo’s death, the nation lost one of its finest servant-leaders. “Jesse has passed. The nation has lost one of her finest servant-leaders. Join us in mourning and tribute,” he said on his Twitter account. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma Jr. said in a statement: "Secretary Jesse Robredo served our people selflessly and honorably. He was an exemplary public servant, a pathfinder in implementing innovations in governance." "He inspired all those with whom he worked by dint of his enthusiasm and devotion to duty. Our thoughts and prayers go with his family," Coloma said.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., in a statement, said: "I join my colleagues in the Cabinet and the whole nation in mourning the passing of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and pilots Capt. Jessup Bahinting and Kshitiz Chand."

"Secretary Robredo was a dedicated public servant and a champion of good governance whose track record in public service has been an inspiration to all those who believe in government as an instrument for positive change," Ochoa said.

"Our prayers go out to the families of Secretary Robredo and his companions, as well as to his constituents in Naga and the officials and employees of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, who lost a leader who tirelessly worked and contributed greatly to President Aquino's campaign for good governance as a means to improve the lives of our countrymen," Ochoa added.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, via the PTV-4 Facebook account, said: "Napakabait ni Sec. Jesse Robredo. Sincere. Isang totoong tao. Malaking kakulangan sa ating bansa. Napakadali ng communication namin ni Sec. Jesse. Walang cheche bureche kami mag-usap."

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., via Twitter said: "Lord, may we find inspiration through our grief. Rest in Peace, Sec. Jesse." Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said, "The loss of Secretary Jesse is such a great loss for the public service. Anyone who had the opportunity to work with him, as I have, would have sensed his dedication, his sincerity and the high regard he placed on his responsibility to the people. He was quite simply, a good man and exemplary public servant." "I feel his loss on a personal level also, not just because hwas a fellow Bicolano, but also because our respective mandates meant that we have been working closely together over the last two years on various matters, and I know that there are still a lot of things we could have accomplished together," De Lima said. "I intend to honor him by vowing to carry on what we have started. He truly was "gone too soon." I, on my own behalf and that of the DOJ family, join Sec. Jes's family in grieving his untimely passing. Their loss is the nation's loss. The DOJ family lost a staunch partner and a prime mover in our fight against criminality and impunity," she added.

Sen. Edgardo Angara, via Twitter, said: "We mourn with the nation for the loss of a great public servant, Jesse Robredo. Our condolences to his family and the two pilots' families. RIP."

Senator Franklin Drilon, in a statement said: "Our country is grieving for we have just lost a man who had manifested genuine sincerity to serve his country. Truly, he was one of a kind public servant." "I was honored to have worked with Secretary Jesse on various projects to advance developments in the LGUs. Also, I salute Secretary Jesse for sharing vision with us and for helping us in crafting sound policies in the Liberal Party where he belonged," Drilon added.

Senator Chiz Escudero, in a statement, said: "The passing of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo is a tremendous loss for the entire nation. He was a stalwart and a pillar of our collective quest for change and good governance."

"I mourn the loss of Secretary Robredo. He embodied everything a Filipino leader should be. He was an honored son of Bicol, a decent and loving husband and father, and a principled man whose honesty and integrity were beyond question," Escudero said.

"My family and I express our deepest condolences to the Secretary's family. I call on Bicolanos, as well as the entire nation, for prayers for the eternal repose of his soul and for his family and loved ones that they find strength to see this tragedy through. While he has left us to be with the Creator, his memory and legacy should be remembered, now and in the days to come," he added.

Senator Pia Cayetano, who is out of the country, issued a statement, saying: "My family and I join the nation in mourning the loss of a great Filipino servant and friend Sec Jesse Rebredo and his companions.

"We pray that the families of Sec Jesse, his pilot J. Bahinting and co-pilot K. Chand may be enveloped in love at this difficult time. I consider Sec. Jesse not just a friend but a mentor. I was campaigning as a senator in 2004 when I met hi m as mayor of Naga City," Cayetano said.

"Later, I arranged with Mayor Jesse to visit Naga City to learn from their best practices, they were best in everything. For years, I've told people how progressive and inspiring Naga City [is], one of my favorite cities in the country," Cayetano added. Ex-Sen. Zubiri rode Robredo plane recently Meanwhile, former Senator Migz Zubiri, in a statement, said: "It's truly a sad day for good governance in our country because of the death of sec.Jessie Robredo. He was a principled and honorable leader and most of all a devoted family man." "It is also a sad day for the aviation industry for losing a great pilot whos devotion to his craft is second only to his charitable works as a true christian. I have personally known Capt.Jessup Bahinting for several years and have flown with him on the same plane, several times in the past. The last of which was Aug.10,11 and 12," Zubiri said. "Nothing seemed wrong w the plane at that time and my experience with Capt. Bahinting's piloting skills are unquestionable. Capt. jessup as he is fondly called was a true Humanitarian and would always lend his skill and his planes to people in need," Zubiri recalled. "More recently, His plane even rescued and brought the aide of Gov.Matugas who survived an assasination attempt last aug.13 to a cebu hospital from surigao city, as well as the several other humanitarian missions he has done in the past without any fanfare. The country truly lost 2 great individuals but lets let their spirit live on inside us. May God bless their souls," Zubiri said. More tributes

The United States Embassy issued a statement saying, "Ambassador Thomas and the entire U.S. Embassy in Manila extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, as well as Captain Jessup Bahinting and Kshitiz Chand, who lost their lives in a plane crash on August 18."

"We will miss our friendship and partnership with Secretary Robredo, as he dedicated himself to bettering the lives of the Filipino people. We stand with the people and government of the Philippines at this difficult time, and are prepared to assist the Philippine Government in the aftermath of this tragic accident," the embassy added.

Former US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Ann Kenney, via Twitter, said: "Admired. Respected. Dedicated. Sec. Robredo will be deeply missed. My deepest condolences to his family."

Canadian Ambassador Christopher Thornley hailed Robredo for being an exemplary public servant, describing him as “a leader who ushered in a new era of political reform in the Philippines.”

“The government of Canada would like to extend its deepest sympathy to the family of Secretary Robredo, the government of the Philippines and the Filipino people,” Thornley said in a statement.

“He inspired government workers to selfless devotion in public service. He was an icon of change and a passionate advocate of good governance,” he added.

Robredo, the envoy said, is recognized for his contributions to government transparency and democratic development - values that Canada strongly shares with the Philippines.

“He will be sincerely missed by the Filipino people, including the 600,000 Canadians of Filipino origin,” Thornley said.

United Kingdom Ambassador Stephen Lillie, in a statement posted on the British Embassy website, said: "The British Embassy is saddened by the death of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Captain Jessup Bahinting and co-pilot Kshitiz Chand. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Government of the Philippines and the families of Secretary Robredo, Captain Bahinting and Mr. Chand."

Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome, in a statement, said: "The entire 147,000 men and women of the Philippine National Police mourn the demise of the father of the DILG family, Secretary Jesse M Robredo."

"All PNP camps are hoisting the national colors at half mast as an expression of our great respect to a great man and a good leader who steered the DILG-PNP family through the straight and narrow path of proper public service," Bartolome said.

"As Chief of the PNP, I extend the deepest sympathy of all officers and men to the family of the late Secretary. We join the family and friends of the late secretary in prayer fir theternal repose of his soul," Bartolome added.

Department of Health Undersecretary Enrique Tayag, via Twitter said: "Sad day for the Philippines. We will miss you Sec. Robredo. The nation mourns passing of a Leader."

The Taguig City government, via Twitter, said: "The City of Taguig mourns the loss of a great man, friend and icon in local government service, Sec Jesse Robredo."

Mahar Lagmay, executive director of Project NOAH, via Twitter, said: "We have lost a great man. Your good heart will always be an inspiration to us all."

Rep. Lucy Torres Gomez, via Twitter, said: "R.I.P. Sec. Jesse. Heaven is your reward for a life well-lived. You will always be an inspiration to so many."

Customs commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon, via Twitter, said: "Like Ninoy's passing on Aug. 21 started a freedom revolution,let Aug. 21 be the start of a good governance revolution in Sec. Jesse's name." - with Kim Tan, Andreo Calonzo, Mark Merueñas, Gian Geronimo, Shai Panela, Michaela del Callar, VVP, GMA News

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