Pres. Arroyo pays tribute to the late Cerge Remonde

CEBU, Philippines - The late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde gave his life for his country in his work as a journalist and as a public servant, President Arroyo said yesterday.

Mrs. Arroyo told reporters that she has appointed Manila Bulletin Editor-in-Chief Crispulo Julio Icban Jr. as Acting Press Secretary.

In her brief message after Remonde’s remains were brought to the Malacañang Heroes’ Hall, Mrs. Arroyo said the late Cabinet official’s training as a hardened journalist contributed in shaping policies of her administration and helped her become a better leader.

She said Remonde passed away on Tuesday morning at the peak of his second career in government.

“He reached the peak of journalism, he reached the peak of public service as a Cabinet member. And so he deserved it all,” a teary-eyed Mrs. Arroyo said.

“Cerge gave fully of himself for the sake of our country both in government for the last nine years and in media since he was 18 years old,” she said.

She said Remonde gave her sound advice and was honest and frank with her.

“He was a very sensitive person. When he would be hurt, he would let me know about it and we will always make up,” the President said.

“But he was also a person of very wise counsel. His questions even in Cabinet meetings in discussions and debates were questions that a journalist would ask,” she said.

Remonde, she said, “always brought the journalist’s perspective into our discussions and that made us the better for the decisions that we made.”

Prior to the arrival of Remonde’s remains to the Palace, the President had lunch with members of the Malacañang Press Corps that the late Cabinet official arranged before his death.

She related that Remonde was one of the Cabinet officials who strongly objected to the proposal of the military to declare martial law to quell the looming rebellion of the Ampatuan clan, whose patriarch and some of his sons were suspects in the massacre of 57 people.

Mrs. Arroyo said the recommendation came at the end of the briefing of security officials and took her by surprise and a debate in the Cabinet meeting ensued.

She said it was only when Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, who also strongly opposed any move that may appear authoritarian, yielded to the recommendation that Remonde followed suit.

She said she vividly remembers Remonde, who was then a broadcaster from Cebu in the 1990s, frequently interviewing her over the phone in Cebuano when she was still a new senator.

“That exposure helped me because it made many people  in the Visayas and Mindanao realize that I spoke Cebuano and that culminated in my landslides in 1995, 1998 and in 2004 in the Visayan-speaking provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao,” Mrs. Arroyo said.

Also when she was still a senator, Remonde would also be consulted during caucuses of senators when measures that would involve media would be discussed, she said.

“I learned early then to take Cerge’s opinion into account. And that was carried on not only in my work as senator but in my work as president with Cerge beside me. So I look at him that way in his various capacities in government,” Mrs. Arroyo said.

“We mourn the loss of this faithful and talented media man and public servant. Many of you here I am sure remember him for his charm he always had a great sense of humor, his wit and his solicitude for individuals as well as for his ideals. His love for people as well as his principles,” she said.

Remonde’s remains were given honors by the Presidential Security Group at the foyer of the Palace.

Mrs. Arroyo met and escorted Remonde’s wife, Marit Stinus, a Danish citizen.

Mrs. Remonde and Mrs. Arroyo were seen crying while viewing a nine-minute video tribute to the late official and journalist at the Palace.

The President later conferred the Order of Lakandula to Remonde. The posthumous award was received by Marit, who was given a plaque and a medal. —Gabriel Bonjoc and Niña Sumacot/NLQ   (FREEMAN NEWS)