“Secretary,” I greeted Jesse Robredo when I bumped into him after the 2010 Magsaysay Awards ceremonies on August 31, 2010, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City.

We shook hands, and he joked that he had to “escape” or “maenot na ako” (go ahead) for his next appointment.

As usual he was unassuming although by then had made it from city mayor to a high cabinet official already. He remained friendly as ever.

Indeed, it is sad that tragedy befell his rush to his next engagement.

MANILA, Philippines (Aug 22, 2012) - The remains of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo is now on closed casket public viewing at the Archbishop's residence in Naga City as tributes pour in from the entire country and even from other parts of the world.

Naga City (Aug 21, 2012) - Department of Communication and Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas confirms this morning that the lifeless body of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo was recovered at around 8:00 A.M. today from the wreckage of his plane that crashed off the shore of Masbate City last Thursday ( Aug 16, 2012).

His three-year stay in the United States allowed him to regroup his efforts, empowering him to reveal, to the international community, atrocities committed by the dictatorship and to galvanize support for restoring our people’s suppressed liberties,” he said.

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - President Benigno S. Aquino III flew to Masbate early this morning to personally oversee the search and rescue effort for missing Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and two pilots after their light plane crashed yesterday afternoon.

MANILA, Philippines (Aug 19, 2012) - Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III will again take the floor on Wednesday to deliver a privilege speech, which would take the place of the last part of his turno en contra (rebuttal) speech.

MANILA, Philippines (Aug 18, 2012 7:30 P.M.) - Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Manalastas Robredo was reported missing in a plane crash off Masbate City this afternoon.

Philippine National Police chief, Director General Nicanor Bartolome said Robredo, his police aide-de-camp Sr. Inspector Jun Abrazado and two pilots were aboard a private plane and was en route from Cebu City to Naga City when the incident happened at 4:30 p.m.

NAGA CITY - Police provincial director Senior Supt. Ramon S. Ranara ordered the police authorities of Libmanan, Camarines Sur Wed. (Aug.15) to intensify the manhunt of three suspects who remain at large after shooting and killing a Libmanan policeman, PO1 Arnel S. Carullo, and wounding Camambugan barangay captain Crensencio Moral Labrador.

RAWIS, Legazpi City -- Sources from the Construction sector particularly in Camarines Sur province are questioning why the bulk of public works projects in Bicol are being cornered for implementation by the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

MANILA, Philippines (Aug 18, 2012) - Amid his problem with plagiarism, Senator Vicente Sotto III may yet again be asked to explain on his claim on a birth control pill's brand that supposedly was the reason behind his son's death in 1975.