NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Camalig Mayor formally ends Search and Retrival operations in CESSNA Plane Crash
Photo credit: Mayor Caloy G. Baldo
Camalig town Mayor Carlos Irwin “Caloy” Baldo announced the termination of the Cessna 340A operations. The operations had been ongoing for 13 days, and involved a complex search and retrieval mission for the bodies of four individuals who had been onboard the aircraft.
The search and rescue operations, which involved a range of responders including local mountaineers, the Naval Special Operations Group, the Philippine Army, and the Bureau of Fire Protection, had initially focused on locating and rescuing the passengers. However, following confirmation of their location, the mission was shifted to one of retrieval.
Despite facing a range of challenges including steep slopes, rockfall events, fogginess, and strong winds, the responders were able to successfully retrieve the bodies of all four passengers. Mayor Caloy expressed his gratitude for the selfless efforts and courageous hearts of those involved in the mission, who had put their lives on the line to accomplish what was one of Albay's most arduous search and retrieval operations to date.
The Cessna 340A operations highlighted the resilience, faith, camaraderie, and hope of the Bikolano people, according to Mayor Caloy. He also acknowledged the Energy Development Corporation, which had provided daily supplies of food, water, equipment, and other resources to support the responders throughout the 13-day mission.
The bodies of the pilot, mechanic, and two Australian passengers have now been turned over to the Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) for further investigation. Mayor Baldo expressed his sympathies to the bereaved families and friends of the crash victims, and reiterated his commitment to never giving up on search and retrieval efforts.
With the successful conclusion of the Cessna 340A operations, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council Operations Center remains open and operational as usual. The LGU-Camalig and partner agencies have pledged to utilize the lessons learned from the mission to improve disaster risk reduction and management efforts in the future.
The search and rescue operations, which involved a range of responders including local mountaineers, the Naval Special Operations Group, the Philippine Army, and the Bureau of Fire Protection, had initially focused on locating and rescuing the passengers. However, following confirmation of their location, the mission was shifted to one of retrieval.
Despite facing a range of challenges including steep slopes, rockfall events, fogginess, and strong winds, the responders were able to successfully retrieve the bodies of all four passengers. Mayor Caloy expressed his gratitude for the selfless efforts and courageous hearts of those involved in the mission, who had put their lives on the line to accomplish what was one of Albay's most arduous search and retrieval operations to date.
The Cessna 340A operations highlighted the resilience, faith, camaraderie, and hope of the Bikolano people, according to Mayor Caloy. He also acknowledged the Energy Development Corporation, which had provided daily supplies of food, water, equipment, and other resources to support the responders throughout the 13-day mission.
The bodies of the pilot, mechanic, and two Australian passengers have now been turned over to the Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) for further investigation. Mayor Baldo expressed his sympathies to the bereaved families and friends of the crash victims, and reiterated his commitment to never giving up on search and retrieval efforts.
With the successful conclusion of the Cessna 340A operations, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council Operations Center remains open and operational as usual. The LGU-Camalig and partner agencies have pledged to utilize the lessons learned from the mission to improve disaster risk reduction and management efforts in the future.
Mar 3, 2023
