CAAP dismisses airworthiness inspector over Robredo plane crash

MANILA, Philippines - The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has dismissed the inspector who declared as airworthy the ill-fated Piper Seneca plane that crashed and killed former interior and local government secretary Jesse Robredo.

CAAP director general William Hotchkiss III ordered the dismissal of Fernando Valdez Abalos, who was found guilty of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service by the Office of the Ombudsman.

The plane with aircraft registration RP-C4431 crashed into the waters off Masbate on Aug. 18, 2012.

Pilot Jessup Bahinting and student pilot Kshitiz Chand were also killed. Robredo’s aide, Senior Inspector June Abrazado, survived the crash.

CAAP filed criminal and administrative complaints against Abalos and Nelson Napata and Federico Omolon III of charter airline Aviatour’s Flyin’ Inc. in March 2013.

In the complaint, Hotchkiss said Abalos issued the certificate of airworthiness for the Piper Seneca plane on the basis of fraudulent certifications.

The ombudsman said investigation showed that Abalos signed and approved the test flight report, making it appear that Napata released the aircraft to Omolon and that Omolon conducted the test flight.

The ombudsman also recommended the filing of a complaint for falsification of public documents against the respondents with the Pasay City Regional Trial Court. –With Rudy Santos