Palace exec: Aquino wants Robredo, two others rescued by Monday

Published August 20, 2012 11:40am

A Palace official on Monday said President Benigno Simeon Aquino III wants Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and two others rescued by Monday, two days after their plane crashed off Masbate on Saturday.

The President went to Masbate on Sunday evening and and stayed there overnight to oversee the search and rescue operations.

According to a report of radio dzBB on Monday, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Search and rescue operations are still going on for Robredo, pilot Jessup Bahinting, and co-pilot Kshitiz Chand.

Robredo's aide, Senior Inspector Jun Abrasado, is so far the only plane occupant to have been resuced. Local fishermen came to Abrasado's aid after they found him floating off the sea.

The four were aboard a Piper Seneca plane going to Naga from Cebu when the plane crashed off Masbate on Saturday.

A vigil and mass were held at the National Shrine of the Divine Child in La Salle Greenhills earlier on Monday.

Work goes on Meanwhile, Valte said work will go on for the Cabinet members of even though they were saddened as the plane carrying crashed on Saturday.

Valte said members of Aquino's team were affected by what happened to Robredo because of their closeness to him. Despite the unfortunate incident, Valte said the government will continue its mandated duties. - Gian Geronimo, VVP, GMA News

Tags: palace, robredo, jesserobredo