Prayer caravan, siren blasts bid Robredo farewell

SOME 200 policemen and civilian volunteers in Davao Region offered prayers for the late Secretary of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Jesse Robredo a day before his state burial on Tuesday.

The Criminal and Investigation and Detection Group Davao Region-Community Investigative Support (CIDG-CIS) conducted Monday a nationwide prayer caravan for Robredo, whom they described him as "remarkable man."

Senior Superintendent Albert Ignatius D. Ferro, CIDG director, said the prayer caravan was upon the directive of CIDG head Chief Superintendent Samuel M. Pagdilao Jr.

"We will always be grateful to him, who, apart from his countless achievements and other reforms he started in the government, shared his last few moments gracing the CIDG-CIS national summit in Cebu," Pagdilao said in his directive.

Pagdilao said Robredo's presence in the summit last August 18 "truly inspired not only the PNP-CIDG members but the thousands of civilian volunteers."

"We want to take the opportunity to publicly thank the late secretary for his trust to the CIDG during his incumbency as DILG secretary, wherein numerous occasions he personally referred to this unit the investigation of several sensitive cases in line with his fight against graft and corruption and abuse in the government," Pagdilao said.

Robredo, who died in a plane crash on August 18, was bestowed the Philippine Legion of Honor for his achievement in public service.

Over at the Central 911 headquarters at the Public Safety Command Center, sirens of fire trucks, ambulances, and emergency vehicles blared as live coverage of Robredo’s funeral showed the final send-off.