Masbate City
20 August 2012

President Benigno S. Aquino III presided over a command conference on the search and rescue operations for Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, pilot Jessup Bahinting and flight student Kshitiz Chand who are still missing after a crash landing near the coast of Masbate City.

Task Force Kalihim Commander MGEN Eduardo Del Rosario gave a briefing on the continued and widened area of operations on the third day of the search.

As of 7:00 this morning (Monday), the group has made markings on the ‘wreckage’ site as Sonar operation continues to locate the plane.

The arrival of about 10 helium tanks and 3 tech certified divers from Malapascua Island in Cebu will also be deployed to support the subsurface rescue efforts for Sec. Robredo and company.  This brings to a total of seven deep sea divers — four from the Philippine Navy and three volunteer divers from Malapascua Island – who are all equipped and ready to conduct the search and rescue operation.

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