EV officials one in saying SILG Robredo’s death a great loss to PHL

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
August 22, 2012

TACLOBAN CITY  –  Government officials in Eastern Visayas are one in saying that the death of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo is a great loss to the country.

The DILG Secretary figured in a tragic plane crash on August 20 off Masbate. His body was recovered on August 21 and was brought to Naga, with no less than President Benigno S. Aquino and several Cabinet Secretaries accompanying his remains.

Leyte Governor and Regional Development Council Chairman Carlos Jericho L. Petilla said Secretary Robredo’s is a great loss to the country.

“He is one of the key players in the move to transform government towards transparency and a government of the people, by the people and for the people,” Governor Petilla told the Philippine Information Agency through a text message.

He has set a standard for the next SILG will have to follow or even improved, the Governor added.

Second District Northern Samar Congressman Emil Ong said, “We lost a very dedicated public servant in the real sense of the word.”

From the time he served as the youngest city mayor of Naga City up to being SILG, his performance has always been excellent.

Even in his death, Secretary Robredo should serve as an inspiration to all those in government service, Congressman Ong, added.

For his part, Congressman Ben Evardone of the lone district of Eastern Samar, expressed hope that the untimely tragic death of Secretary Robredo “will continue to inspire all of us to continue to implement meaningful reforms in government.”

Congressman Evardone also commended President Benigno S. Aquino III for his determination to rescue and retrieve Secretary Robredo and the two pilots.

Palo Mayor Remedios L. Petilla who is the president of the League of Municipalities in Leyte said Secretary Robredo will “always be a source of inspiration and encouragement to us local government executives, towards honest, sincere and good governance.”

He was a true friend, Mayor Petilla added.

Kananga, Leyte Mayor Elmer Codilla echoed the sentiments of the other government officials saying that Secretary Robredo will always be remembered for his full disclosure policy to achieve excellence in governance.

Meanwhile, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez faxed his official message stating that, “My fellow Taclobanons join me in extending to the family of the late Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, our deepest sympathy on his untimely demise.”

God in his wisdom took him from us, but his memory will forever remain with us, Mayor Romualdez added.

Mayor Lucia Astorga of the island town of Daram in Samar province said she is grieving the loss of an idol in the person of SILG Robredo while Mayor Emmelly Olaje of Tarangnan told PIA that she is learning a lot of new things about Secretary Robredo after his death.