Robredo boosted peacekeepers' morale

POLICEMEN and the military are likewise mourning the death of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Superintendent Jose Carumba, chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO) Davao region Police Community Relations Division (PCRD), said Robredo as a father of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who looked after their morale and welfare.

"It is the first time we received full bonus during his term from P7,000 to P10,000. He was an instrument in increasing the budget by 50 percent and the posting of the budget in the PNP website as part of transparency and good governance," Carumba said.

"Malaki ang naitulong ni Robredo sa amin sa PNP and also to the entire DILG family. It's only on his term that the MOE of the PNP were given directly to the station level. Hindi siya naging pabaya sa responsibilidad niya na masasabi kong malaki siyang kawalan sa bayan," said Chief Inspector Neil Rojo, head of the Davao City Police Office's Administration Office (DCPO-AO).

Colonel Marcos Norman Flores, commander of the Task Force Davao (TFD), said Robredo is an icon of leadership who directly oversees the concerns of the PNP and also brought Naga City to greater heights.

"I really admire him as a leader and a public servant. He has dedicated his life for others while being a good father to his children. The nation will surely miss him," Flores said.

Superintendent Marcial Magistrado, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office PRO, said Robredo's life has become a legacy as he dedicated his life to public service with passion and goodness.

"In behalf of the officers and personnel here in the PRO, we would like to express our deepest condolences to the family members and love ones of the great man whose examples and virtues will continue to live in our hearts," Magistrado said.

Major General Jorge Segovia, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, also expressed his condolence in behalf of the other officers and personnel of the Eastmincom.

"We mourn the loss of a very good man and a very concerned government official. He was discerning and calm even in crisis. We were together on the two Pantukan landslides, and few days before he died, we flew together on board a helicopter heading to Cotabato where he surveyed the situation in Central Mindanao. I also mourn the loss of a fraternity brother," Segovia said.

Lieutenant Colonel Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson for the Army's 10th Infantry Division, said Robredo has been an instrument of the close coordination of both PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that will live in their hearts.

"We would like to extend our condolence to the family members and love ones of the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo. He was really a good man and a leader to everyone," Paniza said.

As the authorities await the appointment of a new DILG secretary, they expressed hopes to have someone who would be able to continue the good governance that Robredo started.