Robredo Plane Crash

A PLANE carrying Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo crashed in the sea near the Masbate airport after developing engine trouble around past 4 p.m. yesterday, officials said.

A massive search for the DILG chief and two others including the pilot was underway, said DILG Undersecretary Rico E. Puno. He said that Robredo’s aide identified only as Senior Inspector Abrazado was rescued alive and taken to a local hospital. “Secretary Robredo’s aide appeared to be well,” he said.

Divers involved in the search-and-rescue operation failed to find the plane wreckage after scouring the 150-foot deep site and were forced to return to their boat around 6:45 p.m., an official involved in the operation said.

“There’s no sign of the plane and it’s already very dark there,” said the official who demanded anonymity. He said they were not equipped with night-diving equipment making it impossible for them to search underwater.

The search was temporarily halted at 7:30 p.m. Masbate 3rd District Rep. Scott Davis Lanete said the search would be resumed early today.

The Cessna plane crashed 4:30 p.m. yesterday in the waters off Barangay Ibingay, Masbate City, an official report from the Police Regional Office 5 said.

PRO5 director Chief Supt. Jose Arne de los Santos said there were four people on board the plane composed of Robredo, his aide Senior Inspector Abrazado and the pilot and co-pilot. He said that the pilot decided to make an emergency landing at the Masbate City airport after developing engine trouble but crashed before reaching the airport.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) director William Hotchkiss identified the pilot as Capt. Bainting.

Puno said he and Robredo had just attended the 1st anniversary of the Community Investigative Support, a civilian volunteers’ group of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Cebu City, when the latter took a private plane for Naga City.

“Later, we got a call from the aide that their plane had developed trouble and they need help,” he said. Puno asked the public to pray for the safety of Robredo and his companions.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas said Abrazado suffered a fracture but was otherwise okay and asked that he be allowed to join the search. A radio report said he guided searchers to the crash site and later brought back to the hospital.

Roxas’ voice broke as he talked about the crash and Robredo.

Puno said their initial information showed that the plane crashed around 500 meters away from the Masbate airport. Immediately after, a team of scuba divers and local police and fishermen were dispatched to the scene to launch a search-and-rescue.

The Cessna plane took off from Mactan airport to Naga where Robredo used to be an outstanding mayor. Puno said that shortly after, they were informed that the plane would make an emergency landing.

Darius Tuason, a Masbate provincial disaster rescue official, said the plane crash-landed in Dakak area. He confirmed that many local residents witnessed the plane crash. “I was told that some residents saw the plane crashing into the water,” he said.

Tuason, a retired police general, said Abrazado  joined rescuers who rushed to the crash site located about 400 meters from the end of the runway.

He said that members of the police, the Coast Guard, local scuba divers and volunteer fishermen were still scouring the crash site for the missing DILG secretary and his companions.