Thousands pay respects to late Philippine Interior Secretary
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(PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Some arrived onboard swanky SUVs, others came in rusty wheelchairs.
People from all walks of life, both the powerful and the lowly, trekked through the rain and the traffic to Malacañang's Freedom Hall on Saturday to pay their final respects to the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo who died with two others in a plane crash in Masbate City last Saturday.
As of Saturday afternoon, the Presidential Security Group (PSG) estimated the people who came to the wake at more than 6,000. An hour before viewing was closed to the public at 5pm, there were still about 700 waiting at the Palace gates. The PSG later decided to extend the deadline until everyone got in.
From former President Fidel Ramos to traffic enforcers and FX drivers, people queued up through alternating bursts of rain and sunshine to pay homage before Robredo's closed casket is flown back to Naga City on Sunday for the interment on Tuesday.
