By GENALYN D. KABILING
The body of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo was recovered yesterday after divers found it in the wreckage of the ill-fated Piper Seneca plane 180 feet below sea level in the waters off Masbate at about 7:45 a.m. yesterday.
This was confirmed by Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas who said Robredo's body was found by technical drivers in the cabin of the plane, which was lying upside down.
As this developed, Malacañang started preparations for the official honors and state funeral for Robredo, as retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a close friend of Robredo, and Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo called for a hero’s burial for the DILG Secretary.
In Memorandum Circular No. 36, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., whom President Benigno S. Aquino III designated as DILG officer-in-charge, created an inter-agency committee to organize the funeral arrangements and interment of Robredo, whose tragic death caused “deep sorrow” for the nation.
The chartered Piper Seneca plane crashed Saturday in Masbate City while en route to Naga City from Cebu.
National Days Of Mourning
President Aquino, upon arrival from Naga City last night, signed Proclamation No. 460 declaring August 21 until the day of Robredo’s interment “National Days of Mourning.”
The proclamation also directed that flags in all government buildings will be at half-mast “from sunrise to sunset” in the country and posts abroad for the next six days.
Philippine National Police Director General Nicanor Bartolome had earlier ordered all flags in all police camps and stations at half-mast.
Cut In 3 Big Chunks
Roxas said Matt Reed, a volunteer British technical diver, was the one who saw Robredo's body underwater. The diver said the plane was broken into three big chunks.
A military diver said Robredo's body was floating inside the plane wreck when found.
Divers also found one other body in the cockpit of the ill-fated plane, but they could not ascertain the identity as of press time.
However, search and retrieval operations were temporarily halted after German diver Danny Brumbach suffered decompression sickness. His mouth was frothing as he resurfaced after the search and retrieval operation but is now in stable condition.
Maj. Gen. Eduardo del Rosario, Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) chief and head of Task Force Kalihim, said personnel involved in the retrieval operations will attempt to bring to surface the aircraft’s wreckage today. He said it will now be a purely military operation when the recovery mission resumes today following the accident involving Brumbach.
Del Rosario described the wreckage as rested upside down on the seabed.
“Nakataob yung eroplano and then yung nose nagkaroon ng indention kaya maaring naipit yung mga piloto. Si Secretary Robredo nandun siya sa likuran, natanggal yung pintuan kaya open yun nung puntahan ng ating mga divers at siguro masasabi ko na lucky tayo because kahit na hindi naka-seatbelt si Sec. Robredo hindi siya napalabas ng eroplano,” said Del Rosario.
Roxas had earlier reported that divers also found the bodies of Capt. Jessup Bahinting and his co-pilot Kshitiz Chand in the cockpit. But he later clarified the report that only one other body was found.
The wreckage was found about 800 meters from the shoreline.
The body of Robredo reached the surface at about 8:15 a.m. and was immediately loaded on a rubber boat and then taken directly to the La Funeraria Eternas in Masbate City.
After confirming the body as that of Robredo, Roxas immediately informed President Aquino.
Hope Turned To Heartbreak
Hope turned to heartbreak when President Aquino learned about the passing of Robredo.
Already commemorating the death anniversary of his father, the President grieved over the loss of Robredo, his close friend, and personally brought his remains to his hometown in Naga City.
The grief-stricken leader flew back to Masbate upon learning of the retrieval of Robredo’s body. Aquino then personally saw the return of Robredo, whose body was placed in a metal casket, to his family in Naga City via a Philippine Air Force C-130 plane. Robredo’s body arrived in Naga at 12:55 p.m.
Because of this development, the President was unable to attend a mass commemorating the 29th death anniversary of his father, the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., at the Manila Memorial Park. It was Aquino who contacted the DILG chief’s wife, lawyer Lenie Robredo, and informed her about the retrieval of her husband’s body, three days after his plane crash off the coast of Masbate.
Aquino was joined by Roxas, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and Presidential Communications Development Secretary Ramon Carandang in the sad flight to Naga.
Pain Of Blessing A Friend
Before leaving Masbate, Robredo’s friend for 10 years, Father Leo Casas, gave his final blessings for the DILG Secretary.
“Here we are, a friend blessing a friend,” Father Casas, who was among the few allowed to open the casket, was quoted as saying as he blessed Robredo’s body at the La Funeraria Eternas in Masbate City.
Upon seeing Robredo’s casket, Cabinet officials present and residents touched and hugged it with affection.
From Naga airport, Robredo’s body was taken directly to the Imperial Homes funeral house accompanied by President Aquino, who met with the DILG Secretary’s widow, and their children Aika, 24; Patricia, 18; and Jillian, 12.
Family spokesman Jun Lavadia said the wake for Robredo will be held at the Naga Archbishop's Palace.
In Malacañang, grief and gratitude enveloped Malacañang following the passing of Robredo, whose integrity and diligence were well known in the Aquino Cabinet.
Ochoa and several other Cabinet members mourned the death of Robredo and praised him as a “dedicated public servant and a champion of good governance.”
Dedicated Public Servant
“I join my colleagues in the Cabinet and the whole nation in mourning the passing of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo,” Ochoa said in a statement.
“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,” he added.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda and Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma also expressed grief over the death of Robredo.
“Jesse has passed. The nation has lost one of her finest servant-leaders,” Lacierda said on his Twitter account, a few minutes after Robredo’s body was found.
The public was encouraged to use hashtag #salamatjesse for memories and messages of sympathy via Twitter.
Coloma hailed Robredo for serving the people selflessly and honorably, saying he was “an exemplary public servant, a pathfinder in implementing innovations in governance.”
Budget Secretary Abad also praised Robredo’s integrity and diligence that served as example to many officials in government. Abad said these were the qualities that made Robredo “a most valuable and highly regarded member of President Aquino’s cabinet.”
Vice President Jejomar C. Binay asked Filipinos to pray for the family of Robredo that they may be given the strength during this difficult time.
Iloilo Representative Jerry Treñas, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, remembered Robredo as one of the “most decent” members of President Aquino’s Cabinet team. Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, chairman of the House Committee on Public Information, agreed with Treñas, saying the DILG Secretary was “a great loss to our country and our people.”
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) caretaker-Governor Mujiv Hataman and Governors Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu of Maguindanao, Mamintal “Bombit” Adiong Jr. of Lanao del Sur, Sakur Tan of Sulu, Sadikul Sahali of Tawi-Tawi, and Jum Akbar of Basilan described as “great loss” the demise of Robredo.
The Canadian and British governments also issued messages of condolence to the Philippine government, the Filipino people, and to the family of Secretary Robredo.
“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,” Canadian Ambassador to Manila Christopher Thornley said in a statement. “He will be remembered as a leader who ushered in a new era of political reform in the Philippines, and inspired government workers to selfless devotion in public service.”
“The British embassy is saddened by the death of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Government of the Philippines and the family of Secretary Robredo,” said British Ambassador Stephen Lillie in a statement.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima was in disbelief upon learning yesterday of the confirmation of the death of Robredo.
De Lima and Robredo, both natives of Camarines Sur in Bicol region, were known close buddies in the Cabinet of President Aquino.
Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the Department of Education joins the nation in mourning the passing of the untiring public servant which he called “an icon of good governance and faithful stewardship.”
Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado requested all government units of the province as well as his constituents to pray for the eternal reposed of Secretary Robredo who always supportive and gave help to the Bulakenyos whenever there is a need from his office.
Former Senate President Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. said yesterday Robredo “was an exceptional public servant, able, and faithful to his oath of office.”
Senators Manuel Villar, Loren Legarda, and Ramon Revilla Jr. extended yesterday their “deepest condolences” to the family Robredo.
Cotabato Governor Lala Taliño-Mendoza was grateful of having worked with a public official like Robredo whose main goal is to reach out to LGUs, even in far-flung areas. (With reports from Elena L. Aben, JC Bello Ruiz, Charissa M. Luci, Freddie C. Velez, Ali G. Macabalang, Ina Hernando Malipot, Roy C. Mabasa, Mario B. Casuyuran, Leslie Ann G. Aquino, Malu Cadelina Manar, Leonard D. Postrado, and Edd K. Usman)
Bayan’s parents—Federico and Nelly—went missing on October 26, 2006. They were last seen in Purok Puting Bato in Barangay Calumpang, General Santos City. They disappeared with Gloria Canaveral. The human rights group Karapatan in General Santos City reported that the three were with a man identified as Rex Solon, a former cadre of the New People’s Army and suspected of being a military asset.
