NOT-SO-WEIRD PARALLELS IN PLANE CRASHES OF ROBREDO & MAGSAYSAY

NOT-SO-WEIRD PARALLELS IN PLANE 

CRASHES OF ROBREDO & MAGSAYSAY

Pres. Ramon Magsaysay

DILG Sec. Jessie Robredo

By BERTENI "TOTO" CATALUÑA CAUSING


Both Interior and Local Government Secretary Jessie Robredo and then President Ramon Magsaysay came from Cebu City before their respective planes crashed.

Both of them were not known as bad guys. Magsaysay was known as "The Guy."  To the author, Robredo is known as "The Doer."

The Zambaleño native was known for sterling feats as the Defense Secretary of then President Elpidio Quirino, the man that Ramon defeated in 1953 Presidential elections. For his unequaled records in clean public service, the Philippine Congress enacted a law creating the Ramon Magsaysay award to recognize distinguished feats by Asians, purposed to be the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in Europe.

The Naga native took the honor as the first mayor to be awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service.  He was known for sterling performances as a local government chief executive and in the Interior and Local Government office. He showed the art of public service of dealing right there and then to problems as these are presented.  It was said that during his years in office there was no any jueteng or other forms of illegal gambling in Naga City.

So, it may be said. Magsaysay is the best president the Philippines ever had.  Robredo is the best and the only Magsaysay awardee the DILG ever had.

Why this author calls Robredo "The Doer" is because he is a resolute action man in public service.

This author personally saw how this man performed in public service, truly a shining example of what should a public official do in compliance with the constitutional doctrine that says: "Public Service is a Public Trust."

At one time when the author, being the legal counsel of The Daily Tribune reporter Fernan Angeles, accompanied his wife to the DILG to complain about Pasig policemen in cahoots with a drug syndicate that ambushed the mediaman who survived despite having been hit by six bullets.  After hearing our plaints, Robredo asked for the telephone or cellular phone numbers of the concerned police officials and he right there and then called them to their shock that the secretary was the one calling them.  In front of the complainant and this author, Jessie asked them to explain. Thereafter "The Doer" instructed them to refrain from doing any act in relation to the complaint of Mrs. Gemma Angeles and directed them to submit their report in ten (10) days and he will decide their fate.  This resulted in a stop to the harassment done by Pasig policemen on Fernan's family.  Robredo even assigned policemen to escort Fernan every time he had hearings at the Pasig Regional Trial Courts.

In another time, the author who is the president of Alab ng Mamamahayag (ALAM) and ALAM chairman Jerry S. Yap, then acting as National Press Club president, filed a complaint against Kalinga Governor Jocel Baac.   The latter barged inside the announcer's booth of Radio Kalinga, grabbed one of the microphone, and smashed it on the mouth of broadcaster-commentator Jerome Tabanganay.  The whole incident was captured by Ustream that at that time was broadcasting Jerome's program live to the world.
 Robredo showed resoluteness: he recommended a punishment of suspension against Baac, which recommendation was approved by President P-Noy.

No doubt, ALAM, through Yap as the chairman and the author as the president, doff hats to Robredo in the caliber of Magsaysay.

Both Magsaysay and Robredo rode a propeller-type airplane.  The Guy was in a newly-acquired C-130 giant plane.  The Doer was in a Piper Seneca small plane.

Magsaysay flew off Lahug airport at 1:30 a.m. of March 17, 1957. Robredo flew out about 3:30 p.m.

Look at the dates of the crashes and add the numbers together considering the month's representation in number.

In Magsaysay's, March 17, 1957 is 3-17-1957. Add them: 3+1+7+1+9+5+7 = 33.

In Robredo's, August 18, 2012 is 8-18-2012.  Add them: 8+1+8+2+0+1+2 = 22.

A year after Magsaysay died, another "True Magsaysay" in Robredo was born on May 27, 1958.

Both were too young when the crashes occurred. Magsaysay was 49 and turning 50.  Robredo was 52.

Magsaysay's plane crashed at 1:40 a.m. at Mt. Manunggal.  Robredo's plane crashed into the sea 200 meters off Masbate at 4:30 p.m. Both crash sites start with letter "M."

Magsaysay was into third year in office when the crash occurred. Robredo was also into the third year in office.

Magsaysay came from speaking engagements at veterans' affairs and universities.  Robredo spoke for President P-Noy at an affair of Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) convention.

Both crashes had one survivor. Philippine Herald reporter Nestor Mata survived in Magsaysay's.  Aide de camp Police Senior Inspector Jhun Abrasado survived in Robredo's (if no more reports of survivor would come in).

Moreover, both are not lawyers nor PHDs in economics like Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Both are mechanical engineers, although their planes crashed due to engine troubles.  But Robredo is also an industrial management engineer. Do these mean that mechanical engineers are good managers and honest?

Both are of RARE BREED.