Noy, Cabinet men to attend Robredo's funeral in Naga City

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will attend the funeral of former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo in Naga City on Tuesday, Malacañang confirmed yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda and other Cabinet members will fly today to lead preparations for the cremation and burial of the interior chief’s remains.

Aquino also led the government in honoring and sending off yesterday the remains of Robredo to Naga, the Cabinet member’s home and “happy place.”

Robredo’s last day in Manila started with a Mass at the Kalayaan Hall of Malacañang at 5:30 a.m., officiated by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle.

In his homily, Tagle said Robredo had demonstrated commitment, faith and love when he was alive.

Tagle said Robredo managed to remain a devout Catholic while performing his tasks as a public servant and even confessed three times a month.

Robredo’s death showed that the country longed for a good leader, Tagle added.

President Aquino was not present during the Mass, which ended at 6:30 a.m.

Robredo’s family and the Cabinet members were given the opportunity to take breakfast before the start of the send-off ceremonies.

Aquino arrived in Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang at about 7 a.m. to lead the departure honors.

About 150 members of the Presidential Security Group honor guards rendered a 19-gun salute in honor of Robredo.

The 19-gun salute is an honor given to Cabinet members.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Cavite Rep. Joseph Abaya, Kaya Natin Movement lead convenor Harvey Keh, urban poor group leader Alice Murphy and Joan de la Cruz of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reprised their roles as honorary pallbearers during the ceremony.

The hearse bearing the remains of Robredo left Malacañang grounds at about 7:25 a.m. for Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

About 20 fire trucks of the Bureau of Fire Protection rendered a “water salute” to Robredo as the convoy passed through Osmeña highway.

Policemen, street sweepers and private citizens also saluted the late Cabinet member.

Robredo’s remains arrived at Villamor Airbase in Pasay shortly before 8 a.m.

The military rendered departure honors before the remains were flown to Naga Airport via a cargo plane.

Robredo’s body arrived in Naga at around 9 a.m. where it was honored by the Philippine National Police, local officials and private citizens.

Robredo’s remains are scheduled to be moved from Naga City Hall to the Basilica Minore de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia at 8 a.m. today for the funeral rites.

Congressional Medal of Achievement

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. will lead the House of Representatives in conferring tomorrow a posthumous Congressional Medal of Achievement on Secretary Robredo, a leader of the chamber said yesterday.

House Majority Leader and Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, chairman of the committee on rules, said the resolution will coincide with Robredo’s state funeral.

He said the adoption of House Resolution 2687 will show how the institution values the great contribution to good governance of Robredo who served as Naga City mayor for 18 years.

“As we said in our resolution, it seeks to honor political, economic, and cultural leaders who have distinguished themselves through their life work and their vision,” Gonzales said.

Belmonte and Gonzales were among the principal authors of the resolution. Other authors include Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III, House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, and Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya Jr.

Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona said the resolution will remind Filipinos of Robredo’s immeasurable contributions in the promotion of good governance in the country.

The resolution cited Robredo’s accomplishments as mayor of Naga City where he earned the Ramon Magsaysay award, the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize, and later was appointed as DILG secretary by President Aquino.

“Robredo is regarded as a pillar of good governance, introducing participatory democracy, enabling breakthrough improvements in local governance,” the resolution stated.

Finally, the ‘confirmation’

Meanwhile, the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) will “confirm” Robredo during the originally set confirmation hearing on Wednesday this week, in apparent recognition of the efforts of the late secretary.

Sen. Edgardo Angara said a number of senators and congressmen who are members of the CA have decided to give Robredo his confirmation, which was elusive since his appointment as secretary of his department in 2010.

President Aquino first appointed Robredo in officer-in-charge for one year following some objection over his appointment. It was only in mid-2011 that Malacañang sent his appointment papers to the CA.

Angara said the confirmation will be a form of “recognition” of his service in government.

The move was not meant to appease anybody, Angara said, explaining that the recognition should be seen as an affirmation of the honor vested on him.

Robredo’s wife earlier said in an interview that her late husband was more concerned about his daughters passing their exams than getting his confirmation.  

Leni Robredo recalled having learned this from Robredo when she told him that she was offering a novena for his CA nod, but the late secretary said he would rather that his wife pray for their children to pass their exams. – With Alexis Romero, Paolo Romero, Christina Mendez, Charlie Lagasca, Celso Amo, Cet Dematera