De Lima secures Robredo documents

MANILA, Philippines - Some of the “personal and official documents” left by the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo have been secured, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday.

De Lima said she personally secured the classified documents held by Robredo at his condominium unit last Tuesday upon the request of the widow, Leni Robredo.

De Lima said she knows the location of the condominium unit of Robredo.

De Lima though refused to give further details on the documents, but revealed some of them were “sensitive records.”

He (Robredo) handles many documents on important matters. We need to conduct inventory and preserve the records and documents in the office of Secretary Jesse, including those in his condominium. We need to know what these documents are because we’re sure these are sensitive records,” she explained.

De Lima yesterday handed over the records to Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., who takes over as officer-in-charge of the Department of the Interior of Local Government (DILG).

Staffmembers of Robredo, however, were denied by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) access and entry into his office.

Robredo’s office at the ground floor of the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City was also placed under guard by the PSG.

The PSG also prevented the media from interviewing Robredo’s staff, even just to get personal messages for their late boss.

On orders of President Aquino, top officials of the DILG – Undersecretaries Austere Panadero and Rico Puno along with PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome – have agreed to initiate measures to secure the offices of Robredo.

De Lima, for her part, mourned the demise of Robredo.

“The DOJ family lost a staunch partner and a prime mover in our fight against criminality and impunity,” she lamented.

The flag in the DOJ was at half mast to pay respects to Robredo.

De Lima and Robredo, both natives of Camarines Sur province in the Bicol region, were known to be close buddies in the Cabinet of President Aquino. They had been partners in the administration’s campaign against criminality.

De Lima though found herself at odds again with Sen. Panfilo Lacson, rumored to be a possible replacement for Robredo.

De Lima criticized Lacson for his remarks while remembering Robredo.

“I’m just wondering why Sen. Ping Lacson would say that. The timing, to me, seems off,” De Lima said.

De Lima believes it was improper and disrespectful of Lacson to recall and even link Robredo to their conflict.

“What is that all about? Why does he have to say that at this point?” asked a visibly irked justice chief.

De Lima said she would not confirm or deny Lacson’s assertion “out of respect for Secretary Jesse.”

Lacson, on the other hand, said he does not understand why De Lima is griping about his tribute to Robredo.

“I was just paying tribute to the kindness of Secretary Robredo. I don’t want to comment. I don’t want to pick a fight under these circumstances. I was just paying tribute (to Robredo),” Lacson said.

Lacson on Tuesday disclosed Robredo had quietly helped him while he was in hiding two years ago.

He said Robredo had tried to convince De Lima to stop the manhunt and honor the ruling of the Court of Appeals absolving the senator in the November 2000 killings of publicist Salvador Dacer and driver Emmanuel Corbito.

“Not known to all, he (Robredo) tried his level best to convince DOJ Secretary De Lima to comply with the Court of Appeals decision reversing the Manila regional trial court’s probable cause ruling against me,” Lacson said.

At that time, Lacson said it was De Lima who was preventing him from returning to the country right away because of her threats to arrest him in spite of the ruling of the Court of Appeals.

He said this happened while he was in hiding two years ago to evade a warrant for his arrest issued by a Manila court.

Lacson said that he personally thanked Robredo for what he did for him when he returned to the country last year.

“I know that we had an understanding when I told him thank you Jess, I know what you did,” Lacson said.

He clarified Robredo’s move should not be considered as exerting undue influence over the secretary of justice in relation to his case.

“We were not close friends but he was kind enough to help me and that is why I was surprised,” Lacson said. -Cecille Suerte Felipe, Marvin Sy