CEBU, Philippines - Captain Jessup Bahinting was supposed to visit his resort in Ginatilan last Saturday.
But since it was Sec. Jesse Robredo who personally requested him to fly to Naga City, he decided to put off his trip.
Bahinting’s 64-year-old widow, Margarita, revealed that she and Bahinting always make sure that they meet everyday at the Aviatour Air Office in Mactan and spend the weekend at their beach resort in Ginatilan.
Bahinting is the President and CEO of Aviatour Air, which has suspended its operation following the Saturday crash.
The pilot was also the Area Superintendent of the Visayas of the religious group, Grace Communion International.
Margarita told The Freeman yesterday that she has to accept the painful fact that her husband is gone. She remained calm throughout the interview.
The couple lives in sitio Uldog, San Isidro, Talisay City. They have three children – Jemar, 35; Dan Brian, 34; and Sarah Lynn, 28, who are all successful in their own fields related to aviation.
Margarita said prayers of their family, relatives, and churchmates have been giving her the strength to accept the untimely demise of her husband.
Yesterday morning, Sec. Mar Roxas announced that the bodies of Robredo, Bahinting and student pilot Kshitiz Chand were found.
The plane was found 180 feet underwater and their bodies were still inside.
Robredo’s body was immediately retrieved as he was sitting in the passenger seat while Bahinting and Chand were stuck in the cockpit, which is partly buried in the seabed.
As of presstime, the bodies of Bahinting and Chand are yet to be retrieved.
Margarita said when Bahinting’s body will be brought to Cebu, it will be taken to Cebu Doctors Hospital for the issuance of a death certificate.
They will hold a three-day wake at the St. Peter’s Funeral Homes on Imus Avenue, Cebu City .
The body will then be taken to Ginatilan, where he will be buried after a two-day wake.
Margarita’s roots come from Ginatilan while Bahinting was from Larena, Siquijor but moved to Sibulan, Negros Oriental.
Meanwhile, officials of aeronautical schools in Lapu-Lapu City were saddened by the loss of Bahinting.
Philippines’ State College of Aeronautics (PhilsCa) campus director Nonadel Soriano and Indiana Aerospace University (IAU) President and CEO Juvy Toring said Aviatour had been catering to their students’ on-the-job trainings.
Dr. Toring hopes that the Civil Aeronautical Administration of the Philippines (CAAP) will be strict in monitoring planes in the country.
For his part, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama extends his condolence to the Bahinting family.
Bahinting was named a local hero for saving the life of Cebu City Zookeeper Ronaldo Aventurado who was bitten by a Philippine cobra.
Bahinting allowed one of his planes to be used in airlifting the anti-venom vaccine from Camiguin.
Rama said he will meet with Citom Chairman Jack Jakosalem tomorrow to discuss about his plan of giving Bahinting a Lifesaver’s Award for his heroism. — (FREEMAN)