Pilot of ill-fated plane buried in Cebu

GINATILAN, CEBU—He was an unassuming hero who always looked after the welfare of others.

This was how people described Capt. Jessup M. Bahinting, pilot of the Piper Seneca plane that killed him, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and Nepali student pilot Kshitiz Chand, during a burial ceremony Monday, National Heroes Day.

A privately owned Cessna 172 hovered over nearly 1,000 people who joined the procession from Bahinting’s beach resort to a private cemetery in Ginatilan, 135 kilometers southwest of Cebu City.

Relatives, friends, and past and present employees and students of Bahinting’s flight school, Aviatour, paid their last respects during the necrological service and burial rites in the afternoon.

‘I love JMB’

Aviatour students wore their Type A uniform of white polo and navy blue pants, while the employees were in “I love JMB” white shirts. The letters are the pilot’s initials.

Former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, one of Bahinting’s clients who came, said he would do everything to ensure that Aviatour will not be closed down. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has suspended the company’s operations while conducting an audit.

“This is an accident nobody wants to happen. I was in the same plane three days ago. This is an accident. We promise the family that we will do what we can so the flight school will remain open. This is his legacy … and it will be a shame to close (it) down,” Zubiri said,

Zubiri said he met the pilot in 2007 while running for senator. Since then, he has been flying in Aviatour planes with Bahinting as his favorite pilot.

‘Just pay for fuel’

“He was always there to help us. He will never charge us the usual rates. When I ask him how much I owe Aviatour, he would say, just pay for fuel because we are friends. He has a very good heart and you can see his smile miles away. His skills in flying is unquestionable. He is one of the best pilots I know,” Zubiri said.

While most news reports were focused on Robredo, he said there was little knowledge about Bahinting’s good deeds and unselfish acts.

Addressing the widow, Margarita, Zubiri said: “Wherever he is now he is happy. He is flying on his own wings. We will help you just like Captain Jessup was with us. We hope we can repay the favor.”