Rescuers Sunday searched for Philippine Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and two pilots who was on a small plane that crashed into the sea while attempting an emergency landing. Robredo and the two pilots were on board the small plane that crashed, and one aide of Robredo made an escape from the plane and has been helping aide in the search.
The four-seat Piper Seneca left Cebu City Saturday where Robredo was meeting local officials and was traveling to Naga City where he lived, when two engines stalled.
One pilot was Filipino and the other a Nepali student co-pilot. They tried to land in Masbate province but missed the runway.
President Benigno Aquino III flew with his defense chief and heads of national police and military to Masbate to oversee the search. Thus far rescuers have found a part of the right wing and a copy of the flight plan beneath the water. Detected by sonar equipment there was what appeared to be metal parts on the seafloor.
Divers and ships are searched the ocean while helicopters searched from above. Jun Abrasado, was the fourth person on the plane. He lost consciousness when the plane slammed into the water but got out of the cabin when he regained consciousness and was rescued by fisherman.
Transport Secretary Mar Roxas said to DZBB radio, "When he regained consciousness, he was still in the plane. The water had risen up to his chest in the cabin and he tried to grope for Sec. Jesse but could not find him. He swam out of the cabin."
Abrasado who is in the hospital was aiding the search team by describing how and where the plane crashed.
"This is still search and rescue. The president has been here all night and he monitored the search to make sure all agencies of government are doing everything they can," Mar Roxas told ABS-CBN television from Masbate.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
