Recognition for Robredo

I am amazed by the outpouring of support and love from people for the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo who died in a plane crash last week in Masbate after a short  visit in Cebu. Robredo was rushing home to Naga City in Bicol to attend a special day of his youngest daughter who just won a math award.

Many good things were said about Robredo. That he would take a bus ride home from Manila to Naga City. That he would walk around the city like an ordinary citizen in Naga where he served as mayor for nearly 20 years. Robredo was a simple government official. He’s been compared to the late President Ramon Magsaysay, a man of the masses.

As secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, he introduced innovative programs like the Galing Pook awards and empowered localities. Unlike some Cabinet members, he was very accessible to local officials and the people, and very approachable.

It is just unfortunate that the Commission on Appointments bypassed Robredo three times for confirmation for various reasons. Now that they want to confirm Robredo, it’s moot and academic. And very pathetic.

Robredo’s performance as DILG secretary proved to everyone that Noynoy Aquino was serious about pursuing the Tuwid na Daan (straight road).

He was the epitome of an honest and sincere public servant, full of integrity. I join the Filipinos in mourning the death of Secretary Jesse and pilot Capt. Jessup Bahinting. They were both good men who served God and the people well.

Apparently no one is ready to take the place of Robredo in the DILG, a hard act to follow. I mentioned in my previous column that Sen.  Ping Lacson would be perfect but I now reconsider that because we need someone who can lead the DILG professionally and with not much partisan politics. There were names mentioned like Gov. Grace Padaca of Isabela and co member of the movement Kaya Nation, Mayor Alfredo Lim of Manila and Mayor Digong Duterte of Davao City. Lim is too old for the DILG and Duterte too violent.

I think Padaca may qualify but I trust the president to appoint a highly qualified person to the DILG. Let’s leave it to the president’s wisdom whom to appoint.

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Yesterday  morning I  grabbed a copy of Cebu Daily News  and was very surprised to read in the headlines that Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was  appointed the first lady Chief Justice.

Many expected  Aquino to appoint the most senior justice of the Supreme Court, Antonio Carpio, who showed his moral scruples when he declined a midnight appointment as chief justice by then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Fortunately Sereno, an “insider” choice,  has a track record of integrity and credibility. She mentioned God three times during her first interview. She is expected to seriously implement the judicial reform program especially on the flip-flopping of decisions of the SC.  Her 18-year term  gives her the full opportunity to improve the image of the Supreme Court, fill  many vacancies in the bench and speed up  the disposition of cases.

I hope she gets rid of corrupt judges and lawyers who have made a mockery of the  justice system. It is also hoped that Sereno will equip the courts with better facilities and new buildings and restore public trust in the judiciary.

Good luck to the new Chief Justice.