Divers have discovered the body of Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, who was killed in a plane crash last week, Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on Tuesday.
Robredo was flying a five-seater Piper Seneca from Cebu City to his home city of Naga on Saturday afternoon, when the aircraft crash-landed in the sea. His aide Jun Abrazado managed to jump out of the plane as it was plummeting into the sea near Masbate City and survived with minor injuries.
“Everything points to the fact that the body is of Minister Jesse,” the daily quoted Minister of Public Works, Transportation and Communications Manuel Roxas as saying.
The daily said the divers discovered the minister’s body at the depth of 50 meters (164) feet and some 250 meters (820 feet) away from the nearest shore.
The relief operation to find the remains of the plane and the missing minister involved rescuers, military and the Navy, and was personally controlled by Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who flew to Masbate City the next day after the crash.
