Filipinos grieve for beloved official’s tragic demise

RIYADH: Filipinos around the world expressed grief and sympathy over the death of Jesse Robredo, secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Divers retrieved his body yesterday morning, three days after his Piper Seneca plane crashed into the waters of Masbate bay, due to engine failure.

Robredo’s aide, Jun Abrazado, survived the crash and was rescued by fishermen shortly after the plane went down around 5 p.m. on Saturday near Masbate city. Pilot Jessup Bahinting and Nepalese flight student Kshitis Chand died in the crash.

The Philippine government ordered flags in government offices and schools around the country and at Philippine missions abroad to be flown at half-mast to mark his passing.

Jesse Manalastas Robredo was a Filipino statesman who served as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government in the administration of President Benigno Aquino III from 2010.

He was a member of the Liberal Party and was considered a champion of governance, accountability and transparency. He was known as a paragon of moral governance by his friends, colleagues, and by the ordinary Filipino citizen. 

Overseas Filipino workers posted condolences on their Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Global Voices networking site. Over 10,000 members expressed sadness at his passing. “Our deepest sympathy for the loss of the Secretary of the DILG, Jesse Robredo. We extend our heartfelt condolence to his wife, Ms. Leni Gerona Robredo, and family,” the OFW administration said.

The OFW actively works for the welfare of Filipino workers around the world. “We here at PEBA and the many Filipino and Bicolano people around the world pause for a moment to give tribute to a man we believe exemplified how to be a true public servant.”

John Leonard Monterona, regional coordinator of Migrante-Middle East, told Arab News, “It is indeed a very sad day for the whole Filipino nation.”

 He said, “Migrante-Middle East members, officers, and their families join the Filipino nation in mourning the loss of Sec. Robredo, a genuine public servant and one of a kind.”

“We extend our condolences to his wife and children, his relatives and friends, and particularly to the people of Naga and the rest of Bicol,” he said. 

We echo the call of other groups to let him rest at Libingan ng mga Bayani. His public life, works and good deeds are reason to qualify his remains be laid there,” he added.