State funeral for Robredo

Belatedly, the Aquino Administration is giving tribute to DILG Secretary Jessie Robredo by sending him off in a state funeral. This is the highest accolade that could be given to a Filipino official and a hero.

Today, Robredo’s remains will be brought to Malacañang and will be returned to Naga City for burial on Tuesday.

But the Commission on Appointments may not have to confirm Robredo’s appointment as DILG Secretary. He is dead. And nobody has ever been accorded that honor of a posthumous recognition.

Let them and those who had opposed Robredo’s confirmation wriggle in their seats for the rest of their lives. They deserve it after the public accolade that confirmed Robredo as the best DILG head ever in Philippine political history.

What is more interesting is the reported investigation into the plane crash. The Seneca Piper aircraft which Robredo had taken for Naga City from Mactan suddenly developed engine trouble while off Masbate Island Saturday. That was when pilot Capt. Jessup Bahinting decided to make an emergency landing at Masbate airport before they crashed some 200 meters of the Masbate Airport runway.

There were reports that the CAAP probers will look into the possibility that a substandard aviation fuel may have caused the crash.

Of course, that may no longer undo what had been done. But it should save other passengers and pilots if found correct.

Unfortunately, there have been many similar probes into crashes and never have the findings been bared and the defects discovered published.

But the more important thing to remember is that Robredo, himself, used to be shunned by President Benigno Aquino III during the early part of this administration. It was only later that he seemed to have won the graces of the Chief Executive. And Robredo, with his low-key but effective management managed to convince the President and the entire Cabinet, that we was worth his weight in gold.

Anyway, to his widow, Atty. Leni, and their three daughters, we just wish to remind them that the entire Philippines truly appreciates Robredo’s worth and the public respects him as an example of good government and respect for others.

It will be difficult to find another Robredo.

***

Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. may be wading into the lion’s den when he attends the August 30 meeting in Manila of the Nationalist People’s Coalition members. I said a lion’s den, because Marañon, who used to be the chairman in NPC, suddenly found himself replaced by a new import from the Liberal Party, Kabankalan City Mayor Isidro Zayco.

The problem is that there was no explanation from the NPC as to why Marañon had been summarily dismissed from the chairmanship of the NPC.

Just that – he was eased out as chairman of the party and replaced by Zayco, former governor and now Kabankalan City mayor.

Normally, it is because he must have resigned his chairmanship. Or he may have been found to have done something against the party, then one gets the boot. But there was nothing whatsoever.

So perhaps, what is going to happen is that the NPC meeting will usurp the United Negros Alliance and declare Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez as its candidate for governor for 2013 against Marañon.

That puts Marañon against the wall. He must be able to stick to his avowed decision to run for reelection. Such a tricky way of substituting him with another.

Unfortunately, despite his avowed claims to distance himself from the slaying of Kabankalan Judge Henry Arles, the issue of the judge’s gun-slaying cannot be dismissed outright by Alvarez.

Alvarez has all the right to defend his son, Ilog Mayor John Paul, from the case. After all, he has not been charged yet for the assassination or subjected to preliminary investigation. But that it something that will not go away. And could become fodder for commentators during the 2013 campaign.

Can the NPC and the UNA cope with the issue?

***

Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade member Eddie Fortunado claimed that he had been tortured into admitting that he had participated in the assassination of Judge Henry Arles by naming Philip Arles and lawyer Frank Britanico, the judge’s son-in-law.

Fortunado, however, also said that nobody in the NBI had harmed him.

That flies out of the window because NBI chief Federico Lavin had earlier pointed out that they never allow outsiders to interrogate suspects, a task given to NBI regular agents.

Now there is something here that shows some contradiction into Fortunado’s testimony that the Arles kin were the ones who had electrocuted his private parts and subjected him to torture.

***

Rep. Albee Benitez must able to rally sugar industry leaders behind his sugar industry diversified multi-product measure.

Time is running out on us. And it is best that we manage to save ourselves from somnolence with 2015 rushing just few months away.

Unless the industry leaders can awaken to the reality of the situation we now are in. 2015 can engulf us without warning and plastic our sugar industry.

Time to listen to Benitez’s warning and appeal.*

back to top