‘Still, we grieve, oh, we grieve for Jesse’

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. INQUIRER file photo

Championof good governance. Gift of God. Pathfinder. Exceptional public servant. Gone too soon.

These were among the heartwarming words used by colleagues and friends to describe Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo after his body was recovered Tuesday from the Piper Seneca plane that plunged into the waters off Masbate City.

Had Robredo lived, he could have run for higher office, and who knows, could have “changed our history,” said Harvey Keh, who with Robredo and other like-minded convened the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership in 2008.

“He’s the best president we never had,” Keh said.

Fr. Catalino Arevalo, S.J., said as much in his homily during Mass for the 29th death anniversary of Ninoy Aquino at the Edsa Shrine. Arevalo, who’s the spiritual adviser of President Aquino, said  that the Liberal Party had been looking at Robredo  as a presidential candidate.

Arevalo also quoted Robredo’s spiritual adviser, who asked not to be identified, in his homily during the noon Mass at the Edsa Shrine.

“Jesse was a pure gift of God to Aquino’s administration since its beginnings, who shared his experience of good governance from Day One, sustained it, remained steadfast and true when criticized and challenged.”

Arevalo said that when the spiritual adviser last talked with Robredo he found him “so incredibly detached” and “free from all self-promotion and self-seeking.”

“When I heard of the accident, I had a feeling that Jesse was ready for the welcome words of the Lord: ‘Jesse, you have done much good and have been truly my faithful servant. Enter my Kingdom!’ I have faith that God will give us many other great men. Jesse from heaven will make sure. Still, we grieve, oh, we grieve,” Arevalo quoted Robredo’s spiritual adviser as saying.

As someone who oversaw all local governments, Robredo won plaudits for implementing a sensitive policy aimed at boosting transparency.

The full disclosure policy, the crown jewel of his work in local governance, requires local government units (LGUs) to disclose in public places 12 key financial documents that show how funds are spent.

As of June, 99 percent of LGUs had complied with the policy. This was validated by the latest Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations surveys that showed more Filipinos were observing transparency and accountability in their localities, according to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Movement for Good Governance chairperson Solita Monsod said it was crucial that the reforms initiated by Robredo be continued and that his replacement would make sure that the ideals he fought for be protected.

Last Aug. 17, Robredo wanted to start an advocacy campaign so that ordinary citizens would use the maximum benefits from the tool to demand good governance and transparency from their local leaders. He also gave instructions that illegal logging be stopped, and those involved be made accountable.

Robredo has also been tirelessly improving disaster risk reduction and mitigation capabilities of local government units across the country. He has introduced the Seal of Disaster Preparedness, another incentive mechanism to help LGUs deal with disasters and calamities. “The important thing here is reducing casualties to zero,” he said.

As of the first semester, a total of 8,504 LGUs already have functional disaster management councils while 1,539 have command centers and alarm systems. They now have emergency response, rescue, and medical teams, and evacuation centers.

Rare man

Robredo’s colleagues in the Cabinet mourned his passing as they gathered at Mass at La Salle Green Hills in Mandaluyong City before noon Tuesday.

Several government officials and people who knew Robredo personally showered the late Cabinet official with praises, and reminisced about their experiences with the man they described as a great loss not only to the people of Naga City but also to the entire country.

Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad described him as a “rare man.”

“His unflagging sense of integrity and diligence served as an example to many of his colleagues in and outside government, and these same qualities have made him a most valuable and highly regarded member of President Aquino’s Cabinet,” Abad said in a statement.

Under Robredo’s watch, the DILG made “significant breakthroughs” in establishing good governance practices among local government units and key government institutions, Abad said.

“Secretary Jesse is a very big loss, not just to the family, not just as a friend, but to the entire nation …. We mourn his loss,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview before the Mass. She described him as “a very patient” and kind man, who had “no ego at all.”

Naga is truly a model

Inquirer columnist Randy David, who was chairman of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation which granted Robredo a citation for government service in 2000, described him as a “true public servant.”

“An entire government depends on the performance of local government units. And what Jesse Robredo did in Naga is truly a model for transforming local government units. You should visit Naga, I mean, you can’t recognize it from the past. It has become a universal center,“ David said.

Sought for comment by reporters after the Mass, Teresita Quintos-Deles, presidential adviser on the peace process, said: “He had such good skills, good relationships … He was an enabler.”

Asked what she would never forget about Robredo, Quintos-Deles said: “It’s that smile. That’s the image I will remember, and his ‘Sige Sec.’ He always called me Sec…”

Robredo in all of us

Asked if there would be another Robredo in the country’s midst, the government official said without any hesitation: “No. But we will have to find the (Jesse) Robredo in all of us.”

Former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said: “Jesse was an exceptional public servant, able and faithful to his oath of office. The nation is poorer because of this tragedy. God rest his soul and bless his family.”

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Robredo was gone too soon.

“I intend to honor him by vowing to carry on what we have started,” De Lima said. “The DOJ family lost a staunch partner and a prime mover in our fight against criminality and impunity!” the justice secretary said.

In a statement, Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office called Robredo a “pathfinder” and inspiration for many in the bureaucracy.

Senate resolution

Senators noted Robredo’s exceptional qualities as a person and as a government official.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan expressed a personal loss on the passing of “a longtime ally and a great friend.” Pangilinan said a resolution honoring Robredo and his life would be filed in the Senate.

Sen. Loren Legarda sent word to Robredo’s wife, Leni, and their daughters that they may take comfort in “the fact that he died a happy man and left behind a good name associated with vision, reform and integrity.”

In a text message, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Robredo “quietly” helped him during the days when he was still in hiding to avoid arrest in connection with the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.

Lacson said Robredo had tried his best to convince De Lima to comply with the Court of Appeals decision reversing the finding of probable cause against the senator.

Sen. Francis Escudero, who also suffered a loss recently with the death of his father Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero, also mourned the loss.

Catholic bishops extended their sympathies to the family of Robredo.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said Robredo had great sympathy for the poor. “His heart was with the masses,” he said. With reports from Christine O. Avendaño, Kristine L. Alave, Philip C. Tubeza and AFP