Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. AP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines鈥擫ate Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo started his day early, so early that he, sometimes, arrived ahead of all his employees at the DILG office in Quezon City.
鈥淪a pagpasok lang ng maaga, mas maaga pa sa amin ito [Robredo]. Nandito na agad s鈥檡a . . . May mga pagkakataon nga na s鈥檡a ang unang tao sa building 鈥榩ag may gagawin sa opisina niya (Whenever he went to the office, he鈥檚 earlier than most of us. He鈥檚 already here ahead of us. There were times he was the first to arrive in the building if he鈥檚 doing something in the office),鈥� said Kristoffer Jess Pangilinan, program organizer and coordinator of DILG鈥檚 Patrol 117 Commission during DILG employees鈥� tribute to their 鈥渂oss and father鈥� Wednesday, a day after Robredo鈥檚 body was recovered at sea off Masbate City.
If worse comes to worse that traffic along the busy road of Edsa will likely make him arrive late, 鈥淲hat he will do is get out of his car and just cross the road instead of waiting,鈥� the employee recalls, adding that he would even gladly line up in using the elevator.
鈥淜apag nakikita niyang may nakapila, pumipila din po sya. Minsan nga nahihiya kami kaya pinapauna namin s鈥檡a pero gusto niya nasa pila sya at maghihintay ng kanyang oras (If he sees a line of people [before the elevator], he would also fall in line. There were times out of shame, we tell him to go ahead of us but he would like to stay in line and wait for his time),鈥� Pangilinan said.
In terms of work, the late secretary is as dedicated as he is with punctuality.
Recalling his boss鈥� words to DILG employees, Pangilinan said Robredo would always stress that what鈥檚 important is that there should always be results after a day鈥檚 work.
鈥淪eryoso sa kanyang trabaho . . . 聽gusto niyang makita na meron kang resulta (He鈥檚 serious in his work鈥e likes to see your output) at the end of the day,鈥� he said.
Same with another employee, Bernadeth Obidosa from DILG鈥檚 accounting department, she said she would remember Robredo as 鈥渧ery hard-working and goal oriented.鈥�
During the last time they had Robredo to lead their flag ceremony, Obidosa recalled his boss encouraging them to reach the goals they have set for the year, adding that while he is too serious with work, Robredo was among the nicest secretaries they ever had in DILG.
鈥淢abati sa mga empleyado (He likes greeting the employees),鈥� she said, noting that Robredo would acknowledge employees when they greet them 鈥済ood morning sir.鈥�
鈥淧arang kagaya mo lang din s鈥檡a (He made you feel like he鈥檚 the same person as you are).鈥�
When Pangilinan and Obidosa heard of the tragic incident that happened to Robredo, his aid, Jhun Abrazado, and two other pilots, they both wanted to cry their hearts out.
鈥淗anggang ngayon hindi pa din nag si-sink in sakin. Parang gusto ko nga lumuha (Until now, it hasn鈥檛 sink in. I just want to cry),鈥� he Pangilinan said.
鈥淵ung naramdaman ko grabe . . . hindi ko maintindihan. Grabe talaga. Sinabi ko sa sarili ko 鈥渁no ba yung nagyari na 鈥榶on (I can鈥檛 understand what I feel. I ask myself why did it happen),鈥� Obidosa said.
Robredo died Saturday evening after the Piper Seneca plane he was riding on his way home to his family in Naga City crashed in the waters off Masbate City.
Abrazado was plucked from sea after the incident, but Robredo and pilots聽Captain Jessup Bahinting and Nepalese co-pilot and flight student Kshitiz Chand聽didn鈥檛 share the same fate.
It was only after almost three days when Robredo was recovered from the ill-fated plane, while retrieval operations continue for the pilots.
Malacanang issued聽Proclamation No. 460 later Tuesday declaring the national days of mourning for the late secretary that shall be observed until Robredo鈥檚 burial.