Panel wrapping up probe on Robredo plane crash

MANILA, Philippines - The team investigating the plane crash that killed former Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and two pilots last August is wrapping up its probe, Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya said yesterday.

Although he did not deny an earlier report by The STAR that the crash might have been caused by pilot error and engine trouble, Abaya said the probing team wants to establish the timeline on the calls and text messages sent by Robredo and his aide, Senior Inspector Jun Abrasado, at the time they learned about the problem.

“We are checking if it is legally possible to get text messages, at least the transmission and not content, and the call messages. Once you get that data, we try to integrate that with the affidavit and statement of Abrasado and likewise the report from the tower coming from Manila,” Abaya said.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is tasked to determine the possible criminal liability of the flying company and plane firm of Capt. Jessup Bahinting, owner of the Aviatour Flight School, who also died in the crash along with his co-pilot, Nepalese Kshitiz Chand.