Dato Arroyo on late DILG chief: Never politics for Robredo

Published August 21, 2012 1:12pm

Despite being on the other side of the political fence, a son of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo for being open and accessible.

On his Twitter page, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo said Robredo showed government officials that public service can be done without political color.

“Pinaheling mo sa gabos na an sarong tawo pwedeng magserbi nin tultol na mayong kolor pulitika. Dios an mabalos saimo (You showed to everybody that one can serve decently without political color. God will reward you),” the younger Arroyo said in Bicolano.

Arroyo even recalled that Robredo, whose body was recovered from Masbate Tuesday morning, would talk to him and help him when he could.

"It was never politics for Sec Robredo. Despite being on different sides politically, he'd always talk to me and help me out when he could," Dato said on his Twitter account Tuesday noon.

Dato's mother, former President Arroyo, is now on representing the second district of Pampanga in the House of Representatives.

Mrs. Arroyo is the subject of criminal cases lodged by the present administration.

The younger Arroyo, in a separate tweet, also recalled that Robredo even had dinner with him and his wife when they got a place in Naga City in 2004.

"I remember when we got a place in Naga in '04, then-Mayor Robredo even dropped by and had dinner with me and my wife. Kwentuhan lang kami (We just talked)," he said.

Earlier Tuesday, divers retrieved Robredo's body from the fuselage of a Piper Seneca plane that crashed off Masbate last Saturday.

Robredo's death triggered an outpouring of grief and sympathy from Filipino and foreign officials alike. — with Andreo Calonzo/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: jesserobredo, datoarroyo,