Daughters of the late Cebu Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. handed out a project and some decision documents left by their father to President Benigno Aquino III, who paid a brief visit in his wake yesterday.
It was an opportunity for the family to let Aquino know what their father would have wanted realized for the province before a lung cancer hit him.
Among the documents turned over were the unrealized trans-axial highway that aims to connect both the north and south of Cebu, the Civil Service Commission decision regarding his “appointing authority,” and his counteraffidavit to the Office of the Visayas Ombudsman on the Balili lot purchase inquiry where the vice governor affixed his thumb mark.
Aquino met with the family in a private room inside the Crystal Palace, in Nivel Hills, Lahug. It was brief but the family took advantage of the less-than-20-minute meeting.
“I gave him a copy of the Civil Service Action and gave him a copy of what we received on the Balili case,” said Grecilda Sanchez-Zaballero, the eldest daughter of the late vice governor.
“It’s open, he can always get a copy anytime, but to make it easier we handed a copy to him. I also gave him a copy of his affidavit… He scanned on the pages and said he will look into it,” said Zaballero.
The President, wearing a black polo and slacks, arrived around 10 a.m. at the Crystal Palace to visit the wake of one of his trusted partymates in the Liberal Party.
He was accompanied by his close allies and local party leaders in Cebu, which included former senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas III, Hilario Davide III, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.
One Cebu Party Rep. Luigi Quisumbing of the 6th district and Benhur Salimbangon Jr. of the 4th district came to the wake with Aquino together with Paul Hubahib and other Liberal Party officers.
Former Cebu City Administrator Francisco Fernandez also paid a visit to the wake and waited for Aquino.
“It’s a personal visit,” Zaballero described the visit of the highest leader of the country.
Upon his arrival, Aquino was welcomed by the two daughters of the vice governor, Grecilda and Gerlyda, and went straight to the casket where he paused for a 30-second prayer.
He then met with the family including the widowed Leonarda and the in-laws.
The security was tight. All media personalities were asked to arrive as early as 7 a.m. as the Presidential Security Group (PSG) were particular in the number of visitors at the wake yesterday.
Bomb-sniffing K-9 units inspected the chapel and its surroundings two hours before the President arrived.
The tight security was implemented due to the terror threats as a result of the death of al-Quaida leader Osama bin Laden.
Fernandez, in a separate interview, also encouraged Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to visit the wake of the late vice governor and pay her respects to him.
Meanwhile, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said the Sanchez family shouldn’t be saddened with the loss of their father because he is already home with the Creator.
Palma said the late vice governor had also lived a meaningful life.
“When I looked at the life of the vice governor, it has meaning because he has lived a life of service to other people,” Palma said in his homily during the pontifical Mass he officiated at the vice governor’s wake on Wednesday night. /with a report from Reporters Dale G. Israel and Candeze R. Mongaya and Correspondents Edison A. Delos Angeles and Fe Marie D. Dumaboc