Rodriguez said Beth was his youth leader in Mexico town when she was still a student.
“Hindi lang ako nakikiramay kundi naging bahagi na rin sa aking buhay pulitika si Beth kasi siya ang unang naging youth leader ko kasi naging SK chairperson sa kanilang barangay (I am not only condoling but most of all Beth has become part of my political life since she became one of my first youth leaders because she was Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson in their village),” Rodriguez said.
“So nakilala ko si Dong because of her. Ginawa siguro akong ninong because of Beth (So I met Dong because of her. They made me their wedding godfather because of Beth),” he added.
“Masakit din sa akin nang mabalitaan ko ang kanyang pagkawala. Nalulungkut ako at taus-pusong nakikiramay sa kanyang pamilya (It also pained me when I heard of the news of her passing. I am saddened and express my heartfelt condolences to her family),” Rodriguez said.
Gonzales’ wife Beth was among the 38 fatalities who died of suffocation at the RWM tragedy in the wee hours of the morning on June 2 after a man, later identified as Jessie Carlos, 43, tried to burn down the casino.
Beth’s sister, Consolacion P. Mijares, was also among the fatalities.
