IN PHOTOS: Aquino salutes Robredo divers, search team

MANILA, Philippines – Remember Matt Reed, Danny Brumbach and our own Navy divers?

They endured days of an intense search for the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Captain Jessup Bahinting, and student pilot Kshitiz Chand off Masbate. Now, the divers and members of the search team get a salute and medallion from President Benigno Aquino III.

Aquino awarded them with the Bayaning Likas (Bakas) ng Parangal medallions at a ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Wednesday, September 12. 

“Lalo pa pong tumitingkad ang diwa ng kadakilaan ng pagtitipong ito dahil kasama natin ngayon ang mga indibidwal at grupong naging bahagi ng search and rescue operations para kay Secretary Jesse Robredo at ng dalawa pa niyang mga kasamahan. Sampu ng sambayanang Pilipino, sumasaludo ako sa alay ninyong sigasig at kagitingan,” Aquino said.

(The spirit of greatness in this occasion becomes even brighter because we are with the individuals and groups who were part of the search and rescue operations for Secretary Jesse Robredo and his two companions. As one with the Filipino people, I salute you for persistence and valor.)

Below are photos of the divers during the search operations in Masbate last month, along with their photos during Wednesday’s awarding: