Command Center, Brgy. Ibingay, Masbate City
19 August 2012 

President Benigno S. Aquino III checks on the status of the search and rescue efforts for the missing four-seater plane that carried Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, his pilot Captain Jessup Bahinting and a Nepalese flight student Kshitiz Chand at the on scene Command Center (Lasala Resort) in Barangay Ibingay, Masbate City.

Another passenger, lone survivor and Robredo’s aide Police Senior Inspector June Paulo Abrazado, is currently recuperating from slight injuries he sustained during the crash at the Masbate Doctors Hospital.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Coast Guard, local divers and an American fleet survey team have joined full forces in conducting the search since Saturday off the coast of Brgy. Ibingay. A vessel equipped with Sonar from the Electronic Geophysical Survey (EGS) Philippines has been deployed to help in locating the plane.

Meanwhile, a debris that seemed to be the right wing of the Piper plane with aircraft designation number rpc-4431, and an original flight plan document were recovered during the operations.

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