Remains of 7 of the 8 chopper crash victims arrive in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - The remains of seven of the eight passengers of the ill-fated presidential helicopter on Thursday arrived in Manila from Baguio City. The bodies of the Palace officials and military personnel will be brought to Malacañang. The corpses arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at about 11 a.m., Armed Forces information chief Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres and Air Force spokesman Gerardo Zamudio told GMANews.TV in separate phone interviews. Torres said service commanders were present during the arrival honors bestowed to the Palace officials and military personnel who died on Tuesday on board the Bell 412 aircraft that was on its way to Banaue town in Ifugao province. The victims were supposed to go to the area for an ocular inspection of a site that was supposed to be visited by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last Wednesday. The bodies will first be brought to the Loyola Memorial Chapel in Guadalupe in Makati City before being taken to the Heroes' Hall in Malacañang, where the victims' families and other government officials can pay their respects. "Nakarating na. Nasa Loyola (Memorial Chapel) sa Guadalupe muna. Tapos mamaya dadalhin sila sa Malacañang Heroes' Hall," Zamudio said. [They have already arrived. The bodies are now at the Loyola Memorial Chapels in Guadalupe Makati City. Later in the day, they will be brought to the Malacañang Heroes' Hall.] Killed in the tragedy were Press Undersecretary Jose Capadocia, presidential military aide Brig. Gen. Carlos Clet, Undersecretary for Presidential Engagements and Appointments Malou Frostrom, Presidential Management Staff assistant director Perlita Bandayanon, Navy Petty Officer 1 Demy Reyno, and Air Force Sergeant Roe Gem Perez. The two pilots, Major Rolando Sacatani and Captain Alvin Alegata, also died in the crash. The wreckage of the Bell 412 helicopter was found Wednesday afternoon on a heavily forested mountain along the boundaries of Benguet and Ifugao provinces. Perez's body, which was the last to be found, will be brought to Manila later in the day, according to Torres. "Kaninang umaga lang na-retrieve [It was retrieved only this morning]," he said. Wake at the Palacel The wake at the Palace's Heroes Hall would be until tomorrow [Friday], Press Secretary Cerge Remonde told GMANews.TV in another phone interview. He said the remains would be brought to the victims' families the following day. Earlier in the day, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo led government officials in paying their respects to the remains of seven of the eight fatalities. Radio dzRH reported that the President and other officials attended a Mass in Baguio City where the caskets containing the bodies of the seven fatalities were blessed. Officials present at the Mass included Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Bayani Fernando, Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan, and other local officials of Baguio City and Ifugao province. When the Palace announced Wednesday evening that the incident left no survivors, deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said: "We laud them. They died in the line of duty, a testament of true public service. Their service and patriotism will be remembered." - GMANews.TV