Sonar detectors deployed at the scene of a massive search and rescue in Masbate Bay for DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo have detected what is being described as the wreckage of the Piper Seneca plane that fell into the sea Saturday afternoon with four people on board. Earlier, DOTC chief Mar Roxas said the search teams recovered some debris believed to be the plane's right wing, and its fuel tank.
At least 50 specialized divers are on the scene, part of an over-200 composite team from various agencies that resumed the search and rescue at 5:40 a.m. Sunday, after being forced to suspend the task briefly past 1:30am on account of extreme dark and strong currents.
In a radio interview, NDRRMC head, Undersecretary Benito Ramos confirmed that sonar equipment (used to detect metal under water) of naval boat 378 detected what could be the plane’s wreckage.
Ramos echoed Roxas's statement that officials are definitely not losing hope the three (Robredo and the two pilots) are alive, having possibly taken shelter in one of the tiny islands in the area.
The Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and the Army’s 9th Infantry Division have augmented their teams and equipment in the massive operation being overseen by President Aquino, who flew early Sunday to Masbate.
According to Ramos, he has not received word yet on the exact time that high-tech equipment promised by the US government will arrive at the scene.
Maj Gen. Eduardo del Rosario, Southern Luzon (Solcom) chief, is in charge overall at the Masbate command post, Ramos said.
Roxas reports debris find
Transportation and Communications Secretary Roxas, who earlier announced the discovery of what appeared to be the plane's right wing with the numbers "431," said they were still in search and rescue mode, and President Benigno Aquino III was still in Masbate to oversee search efforts for the chartered plane that missed the runway Saturday afternoon as the pilots tried to make an emergency landing enroute to Naga City from Cebu.
Robredo's aide Don Abrasado was rescued by fishermen but Robredo, the pilot and co-pilot are still missing.
"Debris - appears to be right wing. Numbers are part of aircraft designation RPC-4431," Roxas tweeted.
On Saturday night, the fuel tank of the plane was recovered, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
Roxas said sonar equipment from Cebu has arrived and now deployed to help in the search. The search area has a depth of 40 to 87 meters.
"Human scuba can only do 10 minutes at 40 meters before nitro narcosis," Roxas said.
Robredo's older brother, Butch, has arrived in Masbate together with the pilot's daughter, Sarah Bahinting.
source: interaksyon.com
