Robredo’s casket on its way to Naga City

OFF TO NAGA CITY AGAIN. The casket of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo is carried on a plane at Villamor Air Base to be brought for the final time to his home city, as shown by this photo from the Official Gazette facebook account. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The plane carrying the remains of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo was on its way to Naga City, TV reports said on Sunday.

The plane took off from the Villamor Air Base a little past 8:00 a.m.

Led by President Benigno Aquino III, government officials and Cabinet members earlier held a15-minute departure honors, the report said.

As early as 6: 00 a.m, policemen lined up along Quirino Avenue  and  Osmena Hi-way    to pay their  last   respect for Robredo, who  was killed  in a plane crash last August  18.  The two  pilots of the plane were also killed in the crash.

A ‘water salute,’ was again offered for the late chief of the Department  of  Interior and Local Government when his  funeral cortege passed through the South Expressway,  Communication  Secretary Ricky  Carandang  said on his Twitter.

It was done the first time for  Robredo when  his remains  arrived  in Manila  last Friday from his home town, Naga City.

Robredo will be laid to  rest  on Tuesday.

Originally posted at 08:30 am  | Sunday, August 26, 2012