Robredo recalls phone call from Roxas

NAGA CITY, Philippines—Liberal Party vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo opened up at a campaign rally on Wednesday night about the ties that bind her to running mate Mar Roxas, particularly the unforgettable phone call he made to her on the morning of Aug. 21, 2012.

“It was Secretary Mar on the other line. He could not talk because he had started crying,” she recalled, addressing thousands of her town mates in Bicolano. “When he could finally speak, the only thing he could say was: ‘Sorry, sorry, sorry.’”

It was then that she knew her worst fear had come true—her husband, Interior Secretary and former Naga Mayor Jesse Robredo’s body had been found three days after his plane crashed off Masbate, Leni said.

“[Mar] couldn’t bring himself to say what had happened, but I already knew,” Robredo said, as her audience, who had otherwise been rowdy and cheerful, listened in silence at the packed Plaza Quezon.

Robredo said it was one of many occasions Roxas proved himself to be a true friend to her, her late husband and their three daughters.

She remembered that Roxas had asked her what she thought when President Benigno Aquino III picked him to be interior secretary to replace Jesse. She gave him her blessing.

“I told him I was praying you would be the one because I knew that if you were chosen, you would continue Jesse’s legacy, and even expand it and strengthen it. That is why I have a debt of gratitude to you.’”

“You know how Jesse loved Mar. They fought their fights together,” she told her town mates. “I thank him because he never abandoned us, even when Jesse was still alive.”

Central theme

The memory of Jesse Robredo, who was given a Ramon Magsaysay Award for his honest and transparent leadership as mayor of Naga, was the central theme of this homecoming rally of the Liberal Party’s “daang matuwid” coalition, following the campaign kickoff in Roxas’ native Capiz on Tuesday.

Earlier in the afternoon, President Aquino lit a candle in Jesse’s honor at the latter’s tomb, accompanied by Leni, Roxas and other officials in a private gathering that was closed to the media.

It was the only moment of quiet in the packed schedule of the Roxas-Robredo campaign.

It was the Camarines Sur congresswoman’s turn to host her running mate Roxas, Aquino, and the rest of the administration coalition in her hometown.

“In the same way that Roxas City was Mar’s hometown, Naga is Leni’s,” said LP coalition spokesperson Barry Gutierrez. “We chose Naga and Roxas City because of the symbolism of them returning home before embarking on the greatest journey of their lives thus far,” he said.

Robredo, a lawyer and economics graduate, spoke entirely in Bicolano throughout her 15-minute speech, appearing at ease in front of her home crowd.