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Officials of the local Philippine National Police (PNP) here together with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) have expressed sadness over the untimely demise of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo.

“It’s very sad that a good man like him died in an accident, but then again buhay ay ganyan most important he had shown to us may pag asa ang ating bayan under his stewardship,” said OIC City Police Director, P/ Sr. Supt. James Mejia.

According to Mejia, during Robredo’s stint as Secretary of Interior and Local Government the funds of the police became better to include the benefits of the police and his good managerial skills.

The OIC City Director added that Robredo had made sure that police stations have their own fund for them to function properly.

He said that Secretary Robredo’s death is a great lost to the country “Malaking kawalan considering he served as a very exceptional leader and a very good role model. Kung lahat siguro tayo whether government or private sector gagawin natin yung pinakita niya may patutunguhan ang Pilipinas.”
Meanwhile, BFP, Zamboanga City Fire District (ZCFD), District Fire Marshall F/ Supt. Dominador Zabala Jr. said: “Dolorido ara hinde lang el Ciudad de Zamboanga na muerte di Secretary Robredo triste kame.”

He said that the Secretary always attended to their concerns and he was well known when it comes to transparency and accountability.

For his part, the City Jail Warden of the Zamboanga City Reformatory Center (ZCRC), City Jail Warden J/ Chief Inspector Julius Arro said: “I know him and he is really a good man,” adding that the “Secretary was so supportive of the BJMP and he always gives what is due to us.”

The three officials were unison in saying that the death of Secretary is a great lost to the government service and to the country, stressing that the PNP, BFP, and BJMP are under the DILG headed by the late Robredo.

The body of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo was found Tuesday morning, after the Piper Seneca plane ferrying them from Cebu to Naga City crashed off the waters of Masbate last Saturday afternoon due to engine trouble.

The plane carrying Robredo, his aide, and two pilots crashed 150 meters away from Masbate airport around 4:30 p.m. Saturday as it attempted to make an emergency landing due to engine trouble.

Divers found the plane’s fuselage around 7:30 a.m. while Robredo’s body was found inside the fuselage at 7:45 a.m and his body was brought to shore at 8:40 a.m.

The remains of the interior secretary were found 800 meters off Masbate at 180 feet deep.

The bodies of the 2 pilots, Capt. Jessup Bahinting and Nepalese Kshitiz Chand, have not yet been retrieved. President Aquino personally brought Robredo’s remains to his family in Naga on board a C130 plane. The late secretary’s remains arrived at the Naga airport a little past 12:40 p.m. on Tuesday. Robredo was given arrival honors.

Robredo’s aide, Jun Abrazado, survived the crash and was rescued from the site on Saturday. His plane came from Mactan, Cebu and was headed to Naga City when it encountered trouble.

He was rushing home so he could attend an afternoon awarding ceremony for his daughter, Jillian, who won a competition in the Palarong Panlungsod.

He was appointed by President Aquino as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government on July 9, 2010.
The Secretary was supposed to attend a meeting for his confirmation as DILG chief with the Commission on Appointments on August 29.

By R.G. A A. Go