Robredo death came a week short of his CA confirmation

MANILA -- The death of Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo came a week before his scheduled confirmation by the Commission on Appointments (CA), the chairman of the 12-man CA contingent of the House of Representatives said Tuesday.

In his Twitter account, Paranaque Representative Roilo Golez said the CA was scheduled to confirm Robredo last Wednesday, August 15, but had to postpone it because they wanted to attend the Requiem Mass for their colleague, Sorsogon Representative Salvador Escudero III, who passed away last week.

Robredo's confirmation as head of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) was moved to August 29.

"In fact, I talked to Secretary Robredo last Tuesday and assured him of CA support. We were deprived the honor of confirming one of the best in the Cabinet," Golez said.

"Rest in Peace Secretary Jesse Robredo. You served your country and your people well. Your place is secure in the history of public service," he added.

Robredo, a longtime mayor of Naga City, has yet to be confirmed since taking the helm of the DILG two years ago.

The DILG, meanwhile, released Robredo's prepared statement for the upcoming hearing of the CA, which is also composed of 12 senators.

"Pinapangako ko po na marami pa tayong pakikinabangan sa mga repormang pinalakas natin sa DILG. Paiigtingin pa natin ang pagbabago sa lokal na pamahalaan at sa interior sector upang suportahan ang ginagawa nyo sa national. Sa tulog ng opisyal at kawani ng DILG, gagawin ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya para maabot natin ang pangarap ng isang bansang matuwid at maayos ang daan," the statement read.

Before the light plane carrying him and three others crashed off Masbate last Saturday, Robredo reportedly sought the help of several lawmakers to support his CA confirmation.

On Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II confirmed that Robredo and pilots Captain Jessup Bahinting and Nepalese Kshitiz Chand were killed after the twin-engine Piper Seneca aircraft they were on crashed off Obingay village in Masbate City around 500 meters away from the airport runway. (Kathrina Alvarez/Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)