Puno tried to access Robredo’s documents?

MANILA, Philippines – Four days after Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo died in a plane crash on August 18, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima secured the documents in Robredo’s condominium in Quezon City.

Robredo’s wife, Atty. Leni Robredo, admitted to the press in Naga that she herself had made the request that their apartment be secured.

According to a report by ABS-CBN’s Anthony Taberna on TV Patrol Thursday, September 6, Leni Robredo had asked for heightened security after she was notified that Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Rico Puno tried to enter Robredo’s condominium and offices in the National Police Commission and the DILG, both in Quezon City.

The “sensitive” documents apparently contained information pertaining to an investigation on Puno and some Philippine National Police officials. A longtime friend of President Benigno Aquino III, Puno is a former gun supplier.

Puno continues to be out of reach. He has not returned our calls.

Attempts to break in

The ABS-CBN report said that on August 19, a day after Robredo’s plane crashed off the waters of Masbate, Puno was reportedly accompanied by police general Joel Pagdilao, and Supt. Oliver Tanseco and Apollo Reuben Toganon to Robredo’s condominium at 20 Lansbergh Place in Quezon City. The report showed a copy of the building’s log book that indicated the supposed visit made by the 4.

Tanseco was allegedly able to enter the building, but was prevented from entering Robredo’s condominium unit by the househelp, according to ABS-CBN. Tanseco then called Robredo’s lawyer and asked for permission but he was still not allowed in the absence of a search warrant, the report added.

The ABS-CBN report said that Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman was with Leni when the latter received a call from someone who notified her about Puno’s attempted entry.

Two weeks before Robredo died, he was reportedly able to tell President Aquino about the pending investigation, the ABS-CBN report said.

Earlier, Rappler reported that there have been plans for Puno to leave even before Robredo’s death. A Camp Crame source told Rappler that Puno has been the subject of various complaints that eventually reached the President.

Since Transportation and Communication Secretary Mar Roxas was assigned by the President to take Robredo’s place as DILG secretary, rumors have circulated that Puno is on his way out of the DILG and will be given a different post by Aquino. – Rappler.com