LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – Rescue teams retrieved on Saturday, Feb. 25, the bodies of four people on board a Cessna plane that crashed near the crater of Mayon Volcano a week ago on Feb. 18.
Camalig, Albay town Mayor Caloy Baldo said in a Facebook post on Saturday that the rescue teams recovered the bodies at around 4 p.m.
The remains of pilot Capt. Rufino James T. Crisostomo Jr., mechanic Joel G. Martin, and Australian passengers Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam are being carried on foot and expected to arrive at the incident command center after four hours or around 8 p.m. and will be turned over to the Scene-of-the-Crime Operatives (SOCO).
The retrieval of their remains took at least a week due to difficulties in retrieving them since the site of the wreckage is loose soil and rocks, foggy, and Mayon is under Alert Level 2 or increased unrest.
Baldo said responders pushed through despite the extreme danger in the retrieval operation.
He said that the retrieval team used anchor bolts attached to ropes for their safety. Teams drilled holes for the bolts in order for the ropes to attached.
Dr. Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) chief, described the rescue and retrieval as the most difficult operation Albay has experienced.
Baldo said that a Mass for Cessna victims will be held on Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Anoling Basketball Court in Barangay Anoling, Camalig.