Robredo remains arrive in Naga City

The remains of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo arrived in his home city of Naga before 1 p.m. Tuesday, hours after his body was retrieved from the fuselage of a plane that crashed off Masbate last Saturday.

 

President Benigno Aquino III and some Cabinet members accompanied the remains of Robredo to Naga City Airport, where arrival honors were held, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported.

 

Many residents gathered at the airport to welcome the remains of Robredo, who served as Naga City mayor before he became interior secretary.

 

"We love you Pogi!" read many of the placards and streamers they brought. "Pogi," a Filipino word for "handsome," is Robredo's nickname in Naga.

 

The report said Robredo's remains were to be brought to the Archbishop's Palace in front of the Naga City Cathedral.

 

Earlier Tuesday, Robredo's body was retrieved from a Piper Seneca plane that crashed off Masbate while en route from Cebu to Naga City.

 

On Sunday and Monday, Aquino personally supervised intensified search operations for Robredo. –KG, GMA News