Robredo refused to ride in small plane 2 years ago—Bacolod mayor

DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo: Disliked small planes. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo once declined from attending the inauguration of Mayor Evelio Leonardia of this city in 2010 because he did not want to ride a small plane.

Leonardia recalled that Robredo was scheduled to attend his inauguration as mayor in 2010.

“On a personal note, I find it ironic that when I had my inauguration in 2010 (as mayor of Bacolod), the airport in Manila had a problem and I tried arranging for (Ilocos Sur) Governor Chavit Singson to pick him (Robredo) up from Naga to bring him to Bacolod,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“Singson was willing but Robredo politely declined, telling me he is not comfortable with small planes,” Leonardia added.

According to Leonardia, Robredo told him he disliked riding small planes and that his wife would not allow him to ride these.

“Perhaps it was the call of duty as a father that made him take the risk. We continue to pray for a miracle,” he said.

According to incumbent Naga City Mayor John Bongat, Robredo chartered a Piper Seneca plane, instead of taking a commercial plane from Cebu to his home in Naga City to give a treat to his youngest daughter, Jillian, who won a bronze medal in an international math contest held in Singapore.

Leonardia told the Inquirer that he felt saddened by the news of Robredo’s crash, pointing out that the secretary was a former president of the League of Cities of the Philippines.

“Robredo, with his brilliance and his amicable ways, has shown us that he is a non-traditional politician,” he said.

Leonardia said he was not surprised when Robredo was appointed DILG secretary knowing his excellent record as the mayor of Naga City and as the national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines was excellent.

Robredo and his wife, Leni, a lawyer, have three daughters.

Former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael Coscolluela, a friend of the secretary, also lauded him.

“True to form and consistent with our highest expectations, Secretary Jess championed local governance reform with vision and firm resolve. But more than that, he served with selfless dedication, was always humble and accessible to everyone. As the model for servant leadership, Sec(retary) Jess will be irreplaceable. We can only hope that he is alive somewhere waiting to be found. We pray for him, his family and for the nation,” Coscolluela said.