P-Noy leads commemoration of Robredo's legacy; vows to continue good governance

President Benigno S. Aquino III attended Thursday evening(August 8) the commemoration dinner for the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo as he vowed to continue Robredo’s advocacy for honest and effective governance.

“Alam nating ito ang pangarap ni Jesse, at malinaw naman sa takbo ng bansa ngayon at sa mukha ng mga kasama nating kabalikat sa transpormasyon, hindi natin binigo, at hindi natin bibiguin si Jesse,” the President said in his message at Club Filipino in San Juan.

“Kay Jesse: maraming salamat sa serbisyo, sa alaala at siyempre, sa ispirasyong iniwan mo sa amin. Alam naming nagawa mong harapin ang Diyos na walang bagahe o pagsisisi dahil natupad mo ang misyon mo dito sa lupa. At anumang iniwan mo, kami na ang bahala rito. Hindi ka bibiguin ng mga Pilipino.”

Robredo served as an inspiration to the government to carry out its reform programs, the President said.

The President also promised Robredo’s widow, lawyer Leni Robredo, that his administration will be supportive of her initiatives in her district in Camarines Sur. Robredo was elected as representative of the 3rd district of Camarines Sur during the midterm election in May.

The President said his administration looks at increasing the budget intended to build more infrastructures in Bicol and Mindanao.

As with the government’s aggressive spending for infrastructure development in Mindanao, he said the Bicol region should also receive additional budget for its growth.

“Everybody who is in need should be addressed by government as the capabilities increased,” he said.

On August 18, 2012, a twin-engine, four-seater Piper Seneca plane carrying Robredo en route to Naga City from Cebu City crashed off Masbate killing him and the pilot, Capt. Jessup Bahinting and Nepalese pilot trainee Kshitiz Chand. Don Abrazado, Robredo’s aide, survived the crash.

An advocate of good governance, Robredo served as Naga City mayor for less than 20 years. He spearheaded Naga City’s development, making it one of the country’s premier cities.

Robredo, along with former Pampanga governor Ed Panlilio and Isabela governor Grace Padaca, also founded the Kaya Natin! movement aimed at training future leaders and championing good governance in the country.