NAGA CITY, Philippines – As Naga City mourns the death of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, his parents still don’t know about the fate of their son.

Robredo family spokesperson Jun Lavadia told Rappler Thursday morning, August 23, that they still haven’t told the parents of Robredo’s death.

“Hindi pa hanggang ngayon,” he said.

He explained that it was because the parents were old and sick and that the news might devastate them more.

While yellow ribbons and posters bidding farewell to Jesse pepper the city, the news is easy to hide from his parents Jose Chan Robredo Sr, 89, and Marcelina Manalastas, 85.

Jose Robredo Sr is blind, because of a hereditary ailment, and the pair is mostly indoors at their home in Baranggay Tabuco, where Jesse Robredo grew up.

Very close

Lavadia said they are likely to tell the parents soon, and that the siblings, who are very close to each other, were only waiting for one of the sisters, Dra. Jocelyn Robredo-Austria to come home.

Robredo’s older brother Butch, confirmed she had arrived as of Thursday morning.

Jesse Robredo is the third of 5 siblings. One of the two boys, he is the only in public office. Butch, who is also blind, is a businessman.

Two of Jesse’s sisters, Jocelyn and Penny Robredo-Bundoc are doctors. Jocelyn is based in the States while Penny works at the Philippine General Hospital. The other sister, Jenny Robredo-Tang, also suffers from poor eyesight.

Butch told Rappler that more than siblings, they are all good friends with each other.

“The family we are real good friends. Me, my brother and my sisters,” he said. “So alam mo na, when you’re with your friends, you know, kalabit lang sa ‘yo, you know what it means. Ganun po kaming magkakapatid, we don’t get jealous, hindi kami nagsisigawan. We always try to be civil about everything we talk about.”

He said the whole family is trying to deal with the late Secretary’s death, but indicated he knew tougher days lay ahead.

“Everybody is trying to be strong but every time we see each, it will affect us,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino. – Rappler.com