The search and rescue team has safely brought down all four remains of the Cessna plane crash passengers from the slope of the Mayon Volcano in Albay after 13 days of intensive retrieval operations, Albay Mayor Caloy Baldo said on Friday.
In a press statement, he said the four bodies would be turned over to Scene of the Crime Operation (SOCO) for further investigation.
The passengers were earlier identified as pilot Capt. Rufino James Crisostomo Jr., crewman Joel Martin, and Australians Simon Chipperfield and Karthi Santhanam who were technical consultants for a local geothermal firm.
Baldo commended the collective efforts made by the responder team which is composed of mountaineers, local guides, the Naval Special Operations Group (NAVSOG), the Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection - Special Rescue Force (BFP-SRF), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
"Mayor Caloy expresses gratitude to the selfless efforts and the courageous hearts of the responders who have put their lives on the line and stood up to the challenges surrounding Camalig's first and hopefully, the last aviation tragedy," he said.
Baldo also extended his sympathies to the loved ones of the plane crash victims.
"In light of this development, the Cessna 340A search and retrieval operations are hereby terminated - The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (MDRRMC) Operations Center (OpCen) remains in operations 24/7 as usual," he further said.
On February 18, Cessna 340 RP-C2080 went missing shortly after taking off at 6:45 a.m. from Bicol International Airport.
After five days of search and rescue operations, the aircraft was spotted at the slope of the active volcano, and no passengers survived.
