A pillow for Robredo

MASBATE CITY, Philippines – Naga councilor Maria Elizabeth Lavadia arrived in Masbate on the morning of Sunday, August 19 to track the search and rescue operations for her close friend, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Upon her arrival, she said she threw a pillow used by Robredo at the site where the plane carrying him and three others crashed on Saturday.

“Inutusan ako ng mga taga Naga na maghulog ng unan ni Secretary sa crash site kasi madami silang nabalitaaan at nainiwala sila pag ihinulog, makikita,” she said. (I was asked by the people of Naga to drop Secretary’s pillow at the crash site because it is a folk belief it will help him resurface.)

“Hopeful kami. Si Sec, hindi magpapatalo ‘yon. Lalaban ‘yan.” (We are hopeful. Secretary Robredo will not give up. He will fight.)

The pillow was taken from the Robredo family’s house in Naga, where the DILG chief was the mayor for many years.

Lavadia said that Robredo’s wife, Leni, will stay home in Naga and only travel to Masbate if there is good news regarding the fate of her husband.

Robredo last spoke to his wife around 4.30 pm on Saturday, when he called her to tell her about the engine problem of the plane. The call got cut off right before the crash.

Meanwhile, Robredo’s brother, Butch, is not speaking to the media for now.

Rappler observed him looking very distraught as he rode a boat to help deliver food to rescuers. Butch Robredo has poor vision due to a hereditary condition in the family. – Rappler.com

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