SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – Two days after arriving to oversee the search and rescue operations for Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, President Benigno Aquino III decided to leave Masbate on the afternoon of Monday, August 20.
Aquino traveled to Naga to meet with Robredo’s family, according to Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas. The meeting was not open to the media. From Naga, the President proceeded to Manila.
Robredo’s wife and 3 daughters are in Naga City, where they are monitoring updates on the situation in Masbate, where divers continue looking for the remains of the ill-fated Piper Seneca aircraft which crashed on Saturday.
The divers have so far spotted a few pieces of the wreckage dispersed over a wide area but have to still to locate the fuselage 72 hours after the accident.
Family bracing for the worst
In a statement released early on Monday in Naga City, Leni Gerona-Robredo said the missing Secretary’s family remains “hopeful as we brace ourselves for the worst.”
The couple have 3 daughters: Aika, 24; Patricia, 18; and Jillian, 12.
“[We are] overwhelmed by the unbelievable outpouring of love and prayers for Jesse and our family,” her statement read.
Robredo’s daughter Aika also faced the media for the first time on Monday in Naga City to say that they were “hopeful” but also “realistic” and trying to “manage” their “expectations.”
Wreckage yet to be found
Meanwhile in Masbate, the wreckage of the plane has not been found although the government insists it is still on search and rescue mode.
In a press briefing, Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas said that divers are focusing on a 1 sq km area at sea believed to be where Robredo’s plane is lying.
After the teams returned, Roxas revealed that they had pinpointed a “debris field” of 180-210 in diameter some 2.5 km from shore.
A team of 3 volunteer technical divers based in Malapascua, Cebu submerged themselves in the area, and more expert divers are waiting to go to Masbate also from Cebu if needed.
Special equipment is needed for these extreme depths, and after 250 feet, the bottom goes down to a 1,000 feet deep slope.
No sign of other survivors after 72 hours
After more than 72 hours have passed since the accident, the search and rescue teams have found no sign that Robredo and his two companions — the pilot and his student — may still be alive.
So far only police inspector Jun Abrasado was able to survive the crash.
Friends, colleagues and supporters have been celebrating masses and vigils since Saturday to pray for Robredo’s safe recovery, but with every day that passes hope is starting to fade.
– Rappler.com, with reports from Ayee Macaraig in Masbate, Natashya Gutierrez in Naga City and Patricia Evangelista
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