Remains of Robredo brought to Naga

By By MALoterte, EADelgado

Tuesday 21st of August 2012

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 21 (PIA) -- Remains of Interior and Local Government Sec. Jesse Robredo were placed in a metal casket and will be brought in a CI30 plane to Naga.

Accompanying the body are the President and some Cabinet members.

Transportation and Communication Sec. Mar Roxas stated during the media briefing immediately after the find said that divers found the body of Robredo underwater still inside the plane wreckage around 7:45 a.m. and brought to surface 30 minutes later.

"The body was pulled from some 800 meters off shore Masbate City and at sea depth of roughly 180 feet," he said.

Robredo's body will be directly brought to his hometown Naga City anytime soon.

“The President was informed of the developments who personally called Atty. Leni Robredo to relay the sad news,” Roxas said as he tried to fight off tears.

In Naga City following announcement of Roxas of the developments, Robredo’s family privately shared their grief for the loss while relatives, friends, colleagues, constituents and the media stayed nearby the residence to continue their continuing support.

Roxas meanwhile said retrieval operations for two pilots, Captain Jessup Bahinting and Nepalese flight student Kshitiz Chand, are still in progress.

The retrieval, according to him, of the remaining body is difficult as the fuselage had overturned but operations continue.

Roxas also has already conferred at the operation center the developments with the family members of the two others killed in the crash. (MAL/EAD-PIA5)