MANILA, Philippines - (UPDATE, 9:44 a.m.) Three days after his plane crashed Saturday, the body of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo was recovered early Tuesday, Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II announced in Masbate City.
Roxas, in a tearful press conference, said Robredo's body was recovered 800 meters from shore at a depth of about 180 feet. The body was surfaced at about 8:15 a.m. "At roughly 8:30 a.m.-8:40 a.m., ang bangkay ni Sec. Jess abot na surface inilagay sa body bag," Roxas said.
Roxas said the plane was "inverted" and two pilots were closest to the dashboard of the cockpit, in the deepest part of the cockpit. Robredo was the closest to the back and was the first retrieved by divers.
He said operations shifted to search and retrieval operations at past 9 a.m. once confirmation was received from the divers.
Ongoing retrieval operations are being made for Capt. Jessup Bahinting and Nepalese Kshitz Chand.
President Bengino Aquino III personally informed Robredo's family in Naga that the body of the DILG chief has been recovered.
Roxas said Robredo's body will be brought to his hometown in Naga City.
Radio reports said the Robredo home momentarily closed its doors to visitors and the media when the family learned of the sad news. In his official Twitter account, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda tweeted: "Jesse has passed. The nation has lost one of her finest servant-leaders. Join us in mourning and tribute."
Source: TV5 / Interaksyon
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