Pilots' kin mourn deaths

MANILA, Philippines - A believer in God, Margarita Bahinting said the death of her husband, veteran pilot Jessup Bahinting, was not a “termination (but) a transition to real life, which is eternity.”

Margarita expressed belief that God is working in their lives amid the tragedy that befell her husband, along with Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo and Nepalese co-pilot Kshitiz Chand on Saturday.

“It is God’s will, I accept it but it is very painful,” Bahinting said in a radio interview.

Margarita and Jessup have been married for 36 years.

Bahinting was piloting the Piper Seneca plane with Chand as co-pilot, and Robredo and his police aide Senior Inspector June Paulo Abrazado on board when it crashed into the waters off Masbate last Saturday.

Abrazado survived and was rescued but the three others went down with the aircraft and their bodies were found only yesterday.

“God is really working in his life. This is also a testimony of God’s intervention in his life,” Margarita said.

She received the news confirming her husband was found dead after they completed a prayer vigil yesterday.

Margarita, 64, said she was hoping that her husband was still alive and managed to survive the tragedy.

“We long for his return. I am still hoping because there is nothing impossible with God,” she said.

A few minutes later, news broke out that the bodies of her husband and the co-pilot were found. Margarita said she has to accept the painful fact that her beloved husband is really gone.

She said their family, relatives, and churchmates have been giving her the strength and calmness to accept this tragedy.

Margarita said she has left everything to the Almighty.

“I know that is not the termination of everything but it is a transition of real life, which is eternity and I am willing to accept order for his life,” she said.

Margarita said their daughter Sarah, who is in Masbate, informed her about the sighting of the pilot’s body.

As of press time, the bodies of the two pilots have yet to be brought to the surface, considering the depth of the location of the fuselage and strong underwater currents.

Margarita said she had made arrangements to have her husband’s body transported back to Cebu.

Jessup’s remains would be taken to the town of Ginatilan, Cebu for interment.

“God allows us to undergo this trial, I know that He still loves us unconditionally. We will be seeing each other, his love for us is a model, I am thankful to God, this is not simply a blessing, we should be thankful, even with the trials,” Margarita said. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Niña Sumacot and Brenda Batuto/The Freeman