Source: The Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines – Technical divers recovered the body of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo during a deep sea search in waters off Masbate City on Tuesday morning.
Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas announced that the body was spotted 800 meters from the shore and at a depth of 180 feet in waters off Masbate City.
Roxas said that the body was retrieved at 8:15 a.m. and surfaced at 8:40 a.m. by three technical divers from Malapascua in Cebu.
The three technical divers include two British nationals and a Filipina.
He said that after the “eyeball confirmation” that the recovered body was that of Robredo, President Benigno Aquino III immediately informed the late secretary’s wife, Lenie, of the recovery over the phone.
Robredo went missing after a Piper Seneca plane plunged into the waters off Masbate City on Saturday afternoon.
Roxas said that the bodies of the light plane’s pilots, Jessup Bahinting and Nepali Kshitiz Chand have also been found and retrieval operations were ongoing.
A fourth occupant of the light plane, Senior Inspector Jun Abrazado, was rescued alive hours after the plane crash.
Aquino, accompanied by a number of his cabinet officials, flew to Masbate to direct the search and rescue operations and has remained in the province from Sunday to Monday afternoon.
The President left for Manila to prepare for celebrations for the Ninoy Aquino Day today, August 21.
The 54-year-old Robredo was mayor of Naga City since 1988 before being appointed by as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Robredo is also one of the founders of the Kaya Natin Movement, which is composed of local officials and groups advocating good governance.
Sen. Teofisto Guingona III said “the country lost a bastion of good governance.”
“At Kaya Natin, we have lost a founder, our teammate, our friend. RIP Jesse,” Guingona said.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan said that he was “dumbfounded by the news.”
“We are deeply saddened by this latest news confirming that Sec. Jesse’s body has been retrieved,” Pangilinan said. “He was a longtime friend and a political ally. The nation has lost a dedicated and committed public servant.”
Sayang ang pagkamatay ni DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo. Kung sino pa ang magaling na cabinet member at asset ng PNoy admin ay siya pang naunang pumanaw.
Parang nagkatotoo ang kasabihang ang”mababait na tao, ang unang kinukuha ng Diyos.”
Ang masasamang damo, kaytagal ng buhay.
Just reading the news, I feel his loss. I do not know him but it seems we lost a good man. Thanks for telling the news Mr. Perry.
Sec Jesse Robredo’s death is a great, great loss. His asset of good governance is what the country needed! May you rest in peace Jesse.
Tumpak ang sinabi mo Alberto. We lost an asset. We join all others in condoling with the family of Sec. Jesse Robredo. We, the Igorot community worldwide, were fortunate to have listened to Sec. Robredo’s words of wisdom as the Guest of Honor and Speaker during the 9th Igorot Global Organization held at Baguio Country Club last April 2012. All he said was substantially inspiring and challenging. He is a leader to be missed.
What a tragedy! I join the people in our beloved Philippines in mourning his demise and the pilots who perished with him.
Oh how we grieve, we cannot describe this loss, but his advocacy for good governance and anti-corruption is one shining legacy we all must embrace. Thank you Sec Jesse, you showed us how to live a life for others. Father Almighty, take him into the joy of life everlasting. We trust in your love and mercy.
We are deeply saddened in the lost of the “Best DILG Secretary of the Philippines” ever have.Sec. Jesse Robredo hard works and mission to clean the government corruptions and improve the system are tangible legacy that he is a big lost in our country.Condolence to the family of Sec.Robredo.the Pilot J.Bahinting and Chand who died in the plane crash.
We are at a loss for words. We truly lost a good man seldom seen in todays world of politics and corruption. There is hope. God will provide us such good leaders as Pnoy and Jesse and the rest of those who take geniune concern for a beloved country and people. We pray for Jesse and pilots Bahinting and Chand as well as their families left behind. May they find strenght in the good deeds of Jesse and the rest of those who perished. To inspector Jun Abrazado, Jesse’s aide, way pray for you and your family You have been loyal to your duty when even in the face of death you have made efforts to secure your boss, Jesse’s seat belts and hug him for loss of words to say with an impending disaster even before you may have attempted to secure yourself. God bless us all, God bless Jesse, God bless Pnoy and the Philippines. Jesse would want us to endure and carry his legacy of good governance to the end as he did.