CEBU, Philippines - The widow of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said she didn’t question God on the sudden death of her husband.
Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo, a lawyer, said her husband had always been appreciative of all the blessings God gave him and his family.
“He lived a full life… he was prepared to face the Lord,” she said, adding that her husband always said that he had no more dreams for himself but only for their three daughters – Jessica Marie, 24, Janine Patricia, 18 and Jillian Therese, 12.
The Sunday before the plane crash, Leni said she and her husband had their usual and cheerful conversation in their car at the Naga airport waiting for his plane to arrive.
She said her husband would always express gratitude for the good things that have happened to him which he never even dreamed of.
However, she admitted that the death of the interior secretary was tragic and his loved ones were not prepared for it.
“I know he is well prepared to face the Lord, that’s why I didn’t even question God for taking him away,” she said, adding that her husband went to confession at least three or four times a month.
Leni said her husband admired President Aquino and his fellow Cabinet members for their sensibility and dedication to public service and was very hopeful that the Aquino administration would lead the country on the “tamang daan (rightful path)” and to a better future.
“He had a lot of frustrations... but he was very hopeful something good will happen (in the country). He said the important thing is we have a sensible president and since our President is sensible, he was very hopeful that things will fall into place,” said Leni.
She said she thought her husband was the most hardworking member of the Cabinet, knowing his work ethic, but the interior secretary only had good words for his co-workers.
“He was telling me that (Social Welfare Secretary) Dinky (Soliman) is very industrious. I asked him masipag pa sa iyo (even more than you)? He said yes, at least I have a weekend, she doesn’t have one,” Leni said.
She said her husband believed no one was indispensable and there are many other people with talents and love for country who have yet to be tapped.
She hoped that whoever replaces her husband must share the same vision for the DILG and continue what he started.
Darling of the media
In Bicol, media practitioners grieving the passing of the interior secretary unanimously called him the “darling of the media.”
“He never says no to an interview, or even invitation to a personal occasion of a reporter, as long as his time permits. And mind you, if immediately he does not have, he will make one. And whenever you talk to him, you would feel he is taking you seriously,” Floreño Solmirano, who has covered Robredo for a long time, said.
Hermogenes Alegre, a former politician and now Albay chapter president of the Kapisasan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas, said Robredo’s attitude toward the media earned him the reputation.
Devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia prayed for Robredo’s safety after they learned of the plane crash, hoping that a miracle would save their well-loved former mayor.
Robredo was a devotee of the Lady of Peñafrancia, whom Nagueños fondly call “Ina,” since he was 16 year old.
“He joined the translacion and the fluvial procession and taught us the devotion, which has become a part of the family,” Leni said.
Robredo belonged to the Guardias de Maria, a select group of devotees who have their own distinct medallion.Devotees called him “POGI,” an acronym for Pamilya, Obligation, God and Ina. – Philstar News Service/FPL - THE FREEMAN