President Arroyo pays tribute to 8 aides killed in chopper crash

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – President  Arroyo was teary-eyed from a religious service held at the Loakan Airport here  Thursday  in honor of eight Presidential aides who were killed in a helicopter crash Tuesday, the Office of the Press Secretary's (OPS) website reported.

"After the service, the President sent off her aides’ remains which were loaded into a waiting military Hercules C-130 cargo plane bound for Manila," OPS said.

According to Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Hermogenes Esperon, the bodies  were flown to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City then brought to the Loyola Chapels in Guadalupe, Makati for interment procedures, According to Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Head Hermogenes Esperon.

They will then be brought to the Heroes’ Hall of Malacañang Thursday night before being shipped to their respective families and hometowns.

Killed in the crash were Press Undersecretary Jose Capadocia, Presidential Management Staff (PMS) undersecretary Marilou Frostrom, senior military aide to the President Brig. Gen. Carlos Clet, PMS assistant director Perlita Bandayanon, pilot Maj. Rolando Sacatani, co-pilot Capt. Alvin Alegata, Clet’s aide Quarter Master 3rd Class Demy Reyno, and crewman Sergeant Rohegem Perez. 

In a statement read at The Mansion Thursday morning, the President said we should keep the faith and believe that there is life after death.

“Now is the appointed time for our dear friends and colleagues, who perished in Tangawan, to return to their Maker,” the President said.

“Like His only Son whose martyrdom we commemorate this week, what is required of us in the face of tragedy is our prayerful acceptance of His Will and an unshakable faith in life after death,” she added.

The chopper was reported missing shortly after it took off from the northern city of Baguio around 4:30 p.m. local time (0830 GMT) on Tuesday and then found crashed on a steep slope in the hills Wednesday afternoon.

Bad weather is being eyed as the reason for the crash, which left the helicopter totally wrecked, but this will still be subjected to a "very thorough" investigation, said Presidential Management Staff Head Hermogenes Esperon.  Philippine Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Raben has ordered an investigating team to proceed immediately to Baguio to start the probe.