De Lima takes custody of Robredo's important docs

THE family of the late Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo asked Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to secure personal and official documents in his office in Quezon City, as well as the family condominium unit in Greenhills, San Juan.

De Lima said Wednesday she had been at Robredo's office on Monday and Tuesday to take custody of certain "sensitive and important" documents, upon the request of Robredo's widow, Lenie, who is a lawyer.

De Lima said the request of the family was made apparently after all the staff of the late Cabinet official already flew to Naga city to sympathize with the Robredo family.

She also said she was requested by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, who had been designated as acting Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), to evaluate the documents.

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday has designated Ochoa as temporary replacement for Robredo, who was killed in a plane crash last August 18.

Ochoa went to the DILG office Wednesday to ensure that there will be no interruption in the services the agency provides to the public.

He sought a comprehensive review of all the pending programs and projects left by Robredo.

"While we join Secretary Robredo's family and the nation in this time of bereavement, the President felt also that it is appropriate to designate an OIC for the meantime, on a very temporary nature to ensure that the DILG is running and its service to the public is continuous," Ochoa said.

He already asked an inventory of all the pending matters for review and their status, particularly the reforms that Robredo has started in several offices under the wings of the DILG.

He mentioned the ongoing reforms that Robredo has put in place in the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, as well as his plans to relocate informal settlers.

Initially, Ochoa said he has started putting together the signing and approval system for administrative matters and logistics to prevent any interruption in the services.

He said employees should expect him to be visible in the agency in the coming days until the President appoints a permanent DILG chief.

Malacañang on Wednesday said the post vacated by Robredo is a "very big shoes to fill."

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda admitted that the President might have a hard time finding replacement for Robredo describing the late Cabinet official as "one of a kind."

"Secretary Robredo is one of a kind. He is a Magsaysay awardee. He has proven his competence in local governance and he has shown himself as capable also of speaking and engaging politicians in the entire political spectrum," he said.

Lacierda was also impressed with Robredo's ability to speak to politicians of different affiliations despite being a member of the administration's Liberal Party.

Robredo died last August 18 after the plane carrying him and three others crashed few hundred meters away from the airport of Masbate City. Robredo and the two pilots went missing for three days while the fourth passenger, Robredo's aide, survived. (Jill Beltran/JCV/Sunnex)