RIYADH: The Philippine Embassy announced Sunday that it has opened a book of condolences for those in the Filipino community wishing to convey their sympathy on the passing of Secretary Jesse M. Robredo.
“The move is pursuant to President Benigno S. Aquino lll's Proclamation No. 460 declaring a national day of mourning in honor of the late Secretary Jesse M. Robredo,” Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago told Arab News on Sunday.
Robredo died in a plane crash at sea last Saturday off Barangay (Village) Ibingay in Masbate City. He had just inaugurated a project for the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Cebu City on behalf of Aquino, and was flying to Naga City when his plane crashed.
“Filipino organizations and individuals who wish to send their condolences may also do so by emailing [email protected] and the embassy will compile the messages and send to the family of the late interior secretary,” Tago said.
The book of condolences will be open at the embassy chancery lobby on Aug. 26-28.
Tago said that opening of a book of condolences was also being done by Philippine missions around the world, adding that it's in harmony with the outpouring of sympathy and condolences from Filipinos, not only in Saudi Arabia, but in other countries as well.
“The widespread outpouring of sympathy and condolences reflect the kind of leadership which the late interior secretary showed as head of the Department of Interior & Local Government (DILG), and earlier as the mayor of Naga City for 18 years,” the envoy said.
Tago added that his leadership by example has inspired Filipinos living not just in the Philippines, but other countries like Saudi Arabia.
“We salute him. Like us, he was also a mechanical engineer, although he served as public servant,” said Resty Sibug, past president of the Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers (PSME) in Riyadh. Robredo received his industrial engineering and mechanical engineering degrees from De La Salle University in Manila.
As public servant, he was also simple. He could be seen in simple clothes while accompanying his constituents during his tenure as Naga City mayor. Davao City Vice-Mayor Rodrigo Duterte announced on Friday that he's not fit to replace Robredo at the DILG.
“He was a very simple man. That's what I can say of him,” Duterte told the Daily Inquirer. Duterte made the comment following reports that he was one of two Mindanao leaders being shortlisted for the post.
Many have also commented that Robredo's funeral honors were fit for a president.
“He could have been the best president that we never had,” said Eric P. Asi, an electrical engineer at Nardeen Lighting.
Edward Rodriguez of Al-Khobar added, “The sadness of the whole country over Robredo's demise reminds Filipinos of their grief when the late President Ramon Magsaysay also died in a plane crash in 1957.” Magsaysay was a charismatic president who was loved by the people.
Meanwhile, Robredo's remains were returned to Naga City on Sunday under overcast skies with nine honor guards from the PNP carrying his casket draped in the Philippine flag.
Philippine Embassy opens condolence book on Robredo's death for OFWs
