After the flood and surviving typhoon Helen, Filipinos are
again deeply saddened as a private plane crashed yesterday, around 4pm, 18th of August, off a shore Masbate City, south of
Manila. On board the ill fated plane is
Jesse Robredo our Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary. The plane pilot, Captain Jessup M. Bahinting,
a veteran of flying aircrafts sent distress call to Masbate airport for
emergency landing due to engine trouble. The plane did not make it to the
airport. It crashed off the sea about 500 meters away from the airport.
Rescue and retrieval operation is still ongoing as I am
posting this blog. Prayers and Catholic masses are being offered for the safety
of the Secretary, the pilot and the co pilot. Their fate or chance of survival
is still uncertain as of now. Don Abrasado the aide of Secretary Robredo
survived the crash by jumping off the plane. The crash was witnessed by some
fishermen and residents who mentioned of seeing smoke on the tail of the plane
before it went down.
