Wife on Robredo: He had many ‘frustrations’

MANILA, Philippines – A reform-minded official, the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo often vented his sentiments about the government to his wife, Leni, who addressed the media in a rare press conference on Thursday, August 23.

“He had a lot of frustrations,” said Leni, who declined to divulge details because Robredo told these “in confidence.”

“But he was very hopeful,” she added in a mix of English and Filipino. “He was very hopeful that something would happen. He was telling me it’s important to have an incorruptible president, and because we have a good president now, he was very hopeful that things will fall into place – that whatever he wanted to uproot in DILG, he could uproot.”

Leni said her husband was “impatient,” but knew the government was taking the right direction.

One example, she said, was President Benigno Aquino III’s choice of Cabinet officials. “He admired a lot of people in the Cabinet. He said everyone was hardworking, everyone was good.”

Earlier, Leni requested the government to secure “sensitive” documents in their Manila condominium unit, according to a report on the Philippine Daily Inquirer. 

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said the government will do an inventory of Robredo’s documents, including those in his office at the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

In the press conference Thursday, Leni confirmed De Lima did this upon her request. “Pasiguro lang,” she said. (Just to make sure.)

The Inquirer noted Robredo was involved in the fight against the illegal numbers game jueteng before his death. 

Nevertheless, Leni said her husband “lived a full life.” “He fulfilled all his dreams,” she said. “I think he was prepared to face the Lord.” – Rappler