Robredo's remains sent directly to his family

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo's body has been recovered Tuesday morning.

Robredo's body was found inside a tumbled down fuselage, 180 feet below sea level said Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas, who was 24/7 monitoring the progress of the search and rescue operation in Masbate.

Technical divers recovered Robredo's body on the hind part of the aircraft, making it easier for the rescuers to pull him out of the wreckage, while the other two pilots, Capt. Jessup Bahinting and Kshitiz Chand's were squeezed between the confines of the damaged cockpit.

Robredo's body was brought to surface at around 8:15 a.m.

Roxas said President Benigno S. Aquino III personally called Robredo's wife, Leni, to inform her about the news.

Operations have now shifted to the search and retrieval of the bodies of the two pilots which will resume tomorrow morning.

Operatives of the Philippine Army, the Philippine National Police and forensics are in close coordination with the DOTC in handling the situation, Roxas assures.

Robredo's remains is brought directly to his family in Naga and President Ninoy personally fetched the late secretary's body and escorted it to the funeral parlor, to be delivered to the Robredo family afterward.

The Seneca twin engine aircraft plane, carrying Robredo, his aid-de-camp PSI Jhun Abrasado and two pilots, crashed off the coast of Barangay Ibingay, Masbate on Saturday afternoon, August 18.

Abrasado survived the crash and was found by fishermen in the area. - PIA — ARA