Robredo’s brother braces for the worst

Divers gear up as rescue operations for Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and his companions continue. Photo from gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines – He longs to find Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo alive and even accompanied rescue teams in scouring the waters off Masbate and its nearby islands but the brother of the missing Cabinet official on Monday said that what was important to their family now was just to get him back.

Butch Robredo, the older brother of the Department of Interior and Local Government chief, was emotional when he admitted over a television interview that there was still no sign of the missing passengers of the ill-fated Piper Seneca plane.

“We’ve scoured the place already. Naikot na namin lahat sa totoo lang po, wala kaming nakikita. Napakahirap aminin [pero] yun na ho siguro talaga ang totoo,” he said in a television interview.

“Siyempre gusto kong makuha ang kapatid ko. Okay na po yun sa akin na makuha lang namin siya, yun na po ang consolation. Mabigyan lang namin siya ng—kung hindi na siya maibabalik sa amin—sana proper burial man lang sana,” he said.

Task Force Kalihim has been formed to look for Robredo and President Benigno Aquino III himself oversaw the ongoing search and rescue operations in Masbate. Butch said that several American deep sea divers have also joined local divers in searching for his missing brother and two pilots.

“I still wish that we find him alive, yun po ang sa akin. We still wish to find him,” he added, thanking friends and even strangers who offered prayers for the DILG chief.

“Kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa mga tao.”