MANILA, Philppines - It's rare to see her cry even in the most trying times. The stern-looking President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had in fact survived impeachment moves and crushed rebellions against her administration sans shedding a tear. But on Thursday, the chief executive failed to hide her soft side. She grieved for her Palace aides killed in an air tragedy.
President Arroyo cries beside Press Secretary Cerge Remonde during a brief religious service Thursday for victims of the chopper crash. - AP
Mrs. Arroyo emerged misty-eyed from a religious service held at the Loakan Airport in Baguio City in honor of the three Palace officials and four military personnel who died on a thickly forested mountain in northern Philippines on Holy Tuesday.
An aide comforts President Gloria Arroyo who cries during a religious service for the eight fatalities of the chopper crash. - PCPO
It was supposed to be short and safe flight, just over 30 minutes from Baguio to Banaue, Ifugao. The group was tasked to give a protocol briefing to local officials.
But the weather was rough. Amid thick fog and heavy rains, the Bell 412 presidential chopper boarded by Mrs Arroyo's aides fell down the rugged mountains of Ifugao and Benguet provinces. Six of them were found inside the totally burned chopper. One was recovered near the wreckage, while the last was seen on a cliff, about 60 meters from the crash site.
It was an unusual, dreadful sight for the President. She sent off her people - who had always assured her of her safety - inside metal caskets. Their remains, mostly charred, where loaded into a Hercules C-130 and flown to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City and later brought to the Loyola Memorial Chapels in Makati City for internment procedures.
Despite her despair, Mrs. Arroyo has kept her faith. All will eventually go back to their Creator, thus she believes there will be life after death.
“Now is the appointed time for our dear friends and colleagues, who perished in Tangawan, to return to their Maker," says the President in a statement.
“Like His only Son whose martyrdom we commemorate this week, what is required of us in the face of tragedy is our prayerful acceptance of His Will and an unshakable faith in life after death," she adds.
The remains of the President's aides will be later transferred to the Palace's Heroes Hall. Mrs. Arroyo says she will “miss them so much" because they were part of her official family.
“We share in the grief of their friends. We pray that God will give them strength, the grace of faith and discernment in their hour of need," says the President.
Killed in the crash were Press Undersecretary Jose Capadocia, Presidential Appointments Secretary Marilou Frostrom, Senior Military Aide to the President Brigadier General Carlos Clet, Presidential Management Staff Asst. Director Perlita Bandayanon, pilot Major Rolando Sacatani, co-pilot Captain Alvin Alegata, Clet’s aide Quarter Master 3rd Class Demelyn Reyno, and crewman Sergeant Rohegem Perez. - GMANews.TV
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