Palace explains move to secure Robredo's papers

MALACANANG said Thursday that the move to secure personal and official documents in the office of late Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo is part of the normal procedure.

Following the sudden death of Robredo, his widow Lenie has requested Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to keep several documents in the office of the late DILG chief that she believed "sensitive and important."

"As a general rule, every office of every Cabinet secretary does have, does house confidential documents. That is par for the course," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

"And it is in accordance with normal procedure that when something like when an untoward incident happens, it is part of procedure for us as a matter of prudence to secure the office of the official," she added.

Valte confirmed that de Lima was asked by Lenie, who is a lawyer, to go to their condominium unit in Greenhills to secure some personal belongings and essential documents.

But she said she has no information on reports that Lenie allegedly told President Benigno Aquino III about a sensitive case Robredo was working on before he died.

"I do not know whether Attorney Lenie conveyed anything to the President to that effect," the Palace spokesperson said.

Valte also dismissed rumors linking Robredo's accident to sensitive cases that he handles in his office.

"Those are exactly what you call them -- speculations. Can we remind everybody that all our Cabinet members handle sensitive information, not only Secretary Robredo, not only in DILG but all the President's official family do have," she said.

Valte, likewise, said it is "inappropriate" to discuss at this moment who will be replacing Robredo in the DILG.

Several names being floated are Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Panfilo Lacson. Liberal Party members, on the other hand, reportedly would want President Aquino to choose someone within the party.

"At this time, we feel it is inappropriate for (such discussions). Let us allow also the family the time to grieve for their closure as well. This is a very difficult time for them," Valte said.

President Aquino has designated Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa as acting head of the DILG following the plane crash that killed Robredo and two pilots.

Ochoa went to the DILG office Wednesday to ensure the agency's continuous operations and also to evaluate documents left by Robredo.

Meantime, Malacañang supports the need for Robredo's aide Police Inspector June Abrazado, who is the lone survivor of the tragic plane crash, to be included in the investigation.

"Well, any investigation will, of course, include the account the survivors in this particular case, June Abrazado," said Valte.

However, she refused to comment whether Abrazado should be held liable for the accident, saying it would be prudent to wait for the result of the investigation of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)