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A fitting Palace welcome for Robredo

The remains of the late Interior and Local Government secretary Jesse Robredo now lie in state at Kalayaan Hall in Malacañan Palace Friday, where he was brought by a cortege from Villamor Airbase.

Robredo is the sole Filipino to have been honored with a funeral at the Kalayaan Hall.

Robredo's casket was carried into Kalayaan Hall by six honorary pallbearers: Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas, Liberal Party secretary-general and Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya, Kaya Natin convenor Harvey Keh, Alice Murphy representing the urban poor, and Robredo's chief of staff Joan dela Cruz.

A wake for Robredo, who died in a plane crash off the coast of Masbate, had been held at the Archbishop's Palace in Naga City, Bicol since Tuesday night. The Philippine National Police rendered departure honors before Robredo's casket was brought to Manila, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines rendered arrival honors at Villamor.

From Villamor, Robredo's remains were escorted by the Presidential Security Group and the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing to the Palace, where eight casket bearers from the PSG waited. The casket bearers and pall bearers then brought the casket to Kalayaan Hall, where President Benigno Aquino III led the arrival honors.

Robredo's remains will lie in state at Kalayaan Hall until Sunday morning. The funeral will be open to the public from Friday evening.

On Sunday morning, the Presidential Security Group will render departure honors, including a 19-gun salute. Robredo's remains will be flown back to Naga City for a wake at the city hall before being brought to the Basilica Minore de Nuestra Señora de Peñafrancia on Monday morning.

President Aquino is expected to give the eulogy at the funeral mass on Tuesday. (Text by Jonathan de Santos/ Photos by NPPA Images/ Malacanang Photo Bureau)

 A fitting Palace welcome for Robredo