Philippine official's secret revealed

A Philippine senator on Wednesday evening revealed that it was the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo who had been quietly helping him find a way to resurface during his days of hiding last year in connection with a double-murder case.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said it was him who convinced Robredo to resurface without having to be put behind bars in connection with the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.

"I will always remember and be thankful to Secretary Jesse Robredo for personally albeit quietly helping me during my difficult time while in hiding," Lacson said in a text message to the Manila Bulletin.

Robredo died last Saturday when the 6-seat Piper Seneca carrying him, including three others, crashed into the sea while attempting an emergency landing at the airport of Masbate City.

Lacson also revealed how Robredo tried to woo Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima to heed the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA), which junked the warrant of arrest for the senator issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC).

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), operating under the DOJ, was then tasked to hunt and arrest Lacson.

"Not known to all, he (Robredo) tried his level best to convince Secretary De Lima to comply with the CA decision reversing the Manila RTC's probable cause ruling against me," said Lacson.

Apart from being a loyal ally of President Aquino, Robredo was considered by Lacson as a true friend.

"He was so real and natural as a person in dealing with people, close friends or not," added the senator.

Most members of the upper house said Robredo's passing is a tremendous loss for the entire nation.