Top defense, military officials in closed door meeting over Masbate plance crash

ILL-FATED. File photo of Piper Seneca that on Saturday crashed off Masbate. Photo courtesy of PTV

MANILA, Philippines – Top defense and military officials are in a closed door meeting over the conduct of the search and rescue operations for Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and two others after their plane crashed off the waters of Masbate.

Armed Forces Chief Jessie Dellosa, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Office of Civil Defense Executive Director Benito Ramos have been holed up at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) office in Camp Aguinaldo since the crash was reported at about 5 p.m. Saturday, Peter Paul Galvez told INQUIRER.net.

No other details are available as of posting time.

Robredo and three others were on their way to Masbate City from Mactan in Cebu where he attended a conference when, three kilometres from the Masbate airport, the plane’s pilot sent a distress call before losing contact.

There has been only one survivor, so far, Robredo’s aide, Jun Abrazado.

Parts of the plane have been found in the area of the crash site but not Robredo and the two pilots.