DILG family in East Visayas offers Mass for Secretary Robredo

By Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu

Saturday 25th of August 2012

TACLOBAN CITY Leyte, August 25 (PIA) -- The Department of Interior and Local Government Regional Management Coordinating Committee composed of DILG, Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection sponsored a concelebrated mass for the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Held at the Santo Nino Parish Church at 8 a.m. of August 24, Friday, the mass was attended by the officials and staff of the DILG family in Eastern Visayas, members of the media and other government agencies.

The mass was officiated by Reverend Father Isagani Petilos who exhalted the virtues of the late Secretary. Among those who attended the Mass were DILG Regional Director Pedro A. Noval, Jr., Police Chief Superintendent Elmer R. Soria of PNP-8, and BFP Regional Director Police Senior Superintendent Pablito D. Cordeta and heads of other line agencies under DILG.

Director Noval said the Mass was in observance of the National Days of Mourning which started August 21 until Robredo’s interment on August 28, as proclaimed by President Benigno S. Aquino III.

All the national and local government offices in Eastern Visayas have their national flags hoisted at half-mast in line with the President’s directive, Director Noval said.

Earlier, on Wednesday, August 22, a Mass was also offered at the DILG Region 8 office attended by the regional staff and the staff of DILG Leyte, Noval added. A nine-day novena is also being conducted at the Region Office of DILG.

The LGUs in the Region has also been conducting activities for the SILG, Director Noval said.

After the mass, Director Noval left for Manila to attend the state funeral for Secretary Robredo.

It would be remembered that a Piper Seneca plane carrying Secretary Robredo, his aide Senior Inspector June Abrazado, Captain Jessup Bahinting and his co-pilot Nepalese Kshitiz Chand crashed just short of Masbate airport on August 18, 2012. Robredo’ body was recovered three days after the plane crash.

Aside from holding the position of DILG secretary, Roberto also served as Chairman of Napolcom which has supervisory and administrative function over the Philippine National Police. (PIA 8)