By Genalyn Kabiling
Malacañang has released a message of sympathy over the death of Salvacion Gerona, the mother of Vice President Leni Robredo.
Malacañang Palace. (Photo by Richard V. Viñas / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Gerona, a teacher, passed away last Saturday. She was 83.
“We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to Vice President Ma. Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo for the passing of her beloved mother, Ms. Salvacion Gerona. In this time of bereft, we also offer our thoughts and sympathy to the family, relatives, and friends of Ms. Gerona,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement Sunday.
Panelo noted that Gerona was a “selfless and dedicated teacher” and expressed hope that her soul may rest in peace.
“We understand that Sally, as she was fondly called by her loved ones, was a selfless and dedicated teacher who molded countless of young minds across generations,” he said.
“We pray that the perpetual light will shine upon Ms. Gerona, and that her soul, through the mercy of God, may rest in eternal happiness and peace,” he said.
Panelo could not yet say if President Duterte will visit the wake of Gerona and personally offer his condolences to Robredo. He said this would depend on the President’s schedule.
Duterte recently had a falling out with Robredo following her short-lived stint as the country’s drug war czar last November.
He fired Robredo from her post as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) less than three weeks after her appointment over alleged incompetence. He was supposedly dismayed with Robredo’s move to consult foreigners about the anti-drug campaign, get access to classified stage matters, among others.
Robredo brushed aside her dismissal from the post and released a list of recommendations to improve the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.