Pangasinenses join nation in mourning for Sec. Robredo

By Venus H. Sarmiento

Thursday 23rd of August 2012

DAGUPAN CITY, Aug. 23 (PIA) -- Residents of Pangasinan province joined the nation in mourning over the death of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who perished Saturday in a plane crash in the seas of Masbate City.

Governor Amado Espino, Jr. was deeply saddened by the secretary’s untimely demise, saying Robredo is a simple man and a sincere person whose integrity and dedication as a public servant is unquestionable and above par.

In a statement, Espino said Robredo has shown his personal concern for Pangasinan by directly calling him to inform major policy developments or to warn the public about adverse weather conditions that is sure to affect the province.

“He is hard to replace,” Espino added.

A provincial mass in memory of the late secretary will be held tomorrow, 8:30 a.m. at the Provincial Training and Development Center.

On order of the governor, the flag at the Capitol plaza is hoisted at half mast to join countrymen in the national days of mourning.

DILG Provincial Director Reggie Colisao said Robredo is a big loss to the department and the country as well.

She said Robredo continued to implement the good service that he started in Naga City.

Two of the notable programs of the secretary, she said, are disaster preparedness and the ‘Seal of Good Housekeeping (Governance)’ as a mechanism to eradicate corruption at the local level.

“Gusto niya maging transparent ang operations ng lahat ng mga LGUs and national government agencies (He wants the operations of LGUs and national government agencies to be transparent),” she said.

Her brief encounter with the secretary during his visit to the province during the Pistay Dayat (Sea Festival) left her the impression that Robredo was a jolly, simple person and was such a visionary.

Roderick Dawis, DILG director of Dagupan City, clearly remembered Robredo’s words in his speeches that goes “Bilang public servant, hindi lang sapat na mahusay ka, dapat tapat ka rin. Dapat may balance (As a public servant, it is not enough that you are good, you must also be honest and trustworthy. There should be a balance).”

Dawis went to tell the story of his meeting with the secretary and his family when he accompanied them in their visit to Pangasinan during the Palarong Pambansa in May this year.

Robredo’s youngest daughter, Jillian, was one of Naga City’s representative in the swimming competition.

“The family did not request for too much security or escorts or VIP treatment. They are so simple,” Dawis said, adding that the only security aide with him during that Pangasinan visit was Police Sr. Insp. Jun Abrazado, the lone survivor in the Masbate plane crash.

He and his family cared for their constituents that upon Robredo’s arrival on the eve of the Palaro, he told the staff to just rest for the night because he knows they are too tired.

Dawis also volunteered to be the family driver for the event in Lingayen town.

The officers and men of the Pangasinan PNP provincial office also mourned the death of Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Police Provincial Director Mariano Versoza said the untimely demise of Secretary Robredo is a great loss to the DILG family and the entire nation.

The PNP also joins the nation in praying for the eternal repose of his soul and for the two pilots who also died in the crash. (ANL/VHS-PIA 1 Pangasinan)