Malacañang Palace has denied the request of Naga City, Camarines Sur, to proclaim August 18 as a special non-working holiday to commemorate former Mayor Jesse Robredo’s death anniversary.
In a letter dated August 17, Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs Anna Liza Logan informed Mayor Nelson Legacion regarding the Palace’s decision to deny the request, citing Republic Act No. 10669, or "Jesse Robredo Day", as a special working holiday.
"This Office notes that Republic Act No. 10669 declared 18 August of every year as a special working holiday in celebration of the Jesse Robredo Day," stated in the letter addressed to Legacion.
"Given that there is already a legislative enactment, this Office is constrained to deny your request," she explained further.
"Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Office recognizes the importance of the commemoration of the death anniversary of Jesse Robredo to the people of Naga City," Logan added.
Robredo, who was the former secretary of the Interior and Local Government during the term of then President Benigno Aquino III, died on August 18, 2012 due to a plane crash.
He served as a long-time mayor of Naga prior to joining Aquino’s Cabinet, where his integrity and innovations in governance have been recognized by the people.
Robredo was the first Filipino mayor to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 2000.
