Palace creates tribute page for Robredo

MANILA -- Malacanang on Tuesday invited those who wanted to pay tribute to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo to visit the tribute page created for the Cabinet official.

"We invite everyone to pay tribute to the exemplary life and work of Secretary Jesse through testimonials and remembrances," Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.

Lacierda asked those who wish to share their thoughts, memories, and messages of sympathy for the Robredo family to visit www.gov.ph/salamatjesse, a page established by the Official Gazette in partnership with the DILG and Team Robredo.

Malacanang earlier asked the media and those who wanted to pay tribute to Robredo to use the unified hashtag #salamatjesse for Twitter messages.

"The nation is united in grief and gratitude to one of her finest and most honorable servant-leaders," said Lacierda.

On August 18, a plane carrying Robredo and three others crashed off the coast of Masbate. Three days later, his body and that of the two pilots - Captain Jessup Bahinting and Nepalese Kshitiz Chand – were recovered.

Robredo's aide Police Chief Inspector Jun Abarazado was the lone survivor in the crash.

In a statement, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad joined his other Cabinet secretaries and the nation in mourning the passing of Robredo.

"Many words have already been uttered to describe Sec. Jesse's exceptional work as a public servant," he said.

"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," he added.

He noted that under Robredo's leadership, the DILG was able to make significant breakthroughs in establishing good governance practices among local government units and key government institutions.

"As brief as Sec. Jesse's term was, we fervently believe that the reforms he championed in the DILG will be sustained faithfully long after his passing," he said.

"Even as we grieve, we look forward to a Philippines that continues to be inspired by Sec. Jesse's passion for and commitment to public service. He was a rare man whose exemplary deeds spoke well and true for him. He will always be remembered as such," he ended.

Robredo, who was a member of the Liberal Party, was appointed to the Cabinet of Aquino in 2010 but had a hard time passing the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Paranaque Representative Roilo Golez revealed that Robredo was supposed to be confirmed by the CA next week.

Golez said Robredo was originally scheduled to be confirmed last Wednesday, August 15, but had to postpone it because they had to attend a mass for colleague, Sorsogon Representative Salvador Escudero III, who passed away last week.

Before joining the Cabinet, he served as the mayor of Naga City in Camarines Sur for six terms.

In recognition of his achievements as mayor, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 2000. He was the first Filipino mayor who was given the award. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)