'Robredo pilot had licenses but not encoded'

MANILA, Philippines - The commercial and flight instructor pilot licenses of Jessup Bahinting, which expired last April 8, were renewed but were not encoded into the database of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), a source in the agency said yesterday.

The source told The STAR that based on the document flow, Bahinting applied for the renewal of his licenses on April 24 and these were released on May 2.

But supporting documents, which included the check test as the last requirement for the processing of the licenses, were not forwarded for encoding in the CAAP computer data bank.

The source also said a closer look at the supporting documents showed Bahinting took his “check test” last March, a month before he applied for the renewal of his licenses.

“The process of renewal was irregular because the check test should only be taken after the submission of all requirements. The check test is the final step before the licenses are released,” the source said.

The source said the CAAP database showed the commercial license number of Bahinting was 75-C-25, meaning he was the 25th commercial pilot licensed in 1975, while his flight instructor license number was 76-15 issued in 1976.

The requirements for renewal of commercial pilot and flight instructor licenses are medical certificate, clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation, and a record of at least 10 flying hours three months before the expiration of the licenses.

The final requirement is the check test where the applicant will fly a plane with a test pilot to evaluate if he is still capable.

The source also said Nepalese student pilot Kshitiz Chand, the co-pilot of Bahinting, had no rating to fly the Piper Seneca plane since his rating is only for Cessna 157 and 172 light planes.

Based on the initial findings, Bahinting’s body was found strapped at the right seat of the cockpit, an indication that he was not the pilot in command during the flight.

Sources at the CAAP said the Nepalese student could have been building up flying time to accumulate the necessary 10 flying hours to get the rating for Piper Seneca planes.

Bahinting and Chand were the pilots of the Piper Seneca that carried Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and his aide Senior Inspector June Paolo Abrazado.

The plane developed trouble and crashed at sea last Aug. 18, during an attempt to make an emergency landing in Masbate. Only Abrazado survived the crash.

Bahinting’s widow, Margarita said the allegations on the expired licenses of her husband had no proof.

“They are putting down my husband and all those allegations are not true and I don’t know where they get it,” she said.

She added that her husband renewed his licenses last March.

Bahinting was the owner and operator of Aviatour Air, where the ill-fated chartered plane was registered.

Aviatour human resources manager Michelle Ferol said they would appeal their suspension of operations before the CAAP.

Ferol said the CAAP had ordered the suspension of the whole Aviatour services, including its air taxi, aircraft sales and maintenance services, and flying school.

“We will make an appeal to CAAP not to include the flying school since there are over 100 students involved,” Ferol said.

In the meantime, Ferol said the students understand the situation of the school and will wait until CAAP lifts the suspension.

To be laid to rest

Bahinting’s remains arrived at the hometown of his wife in Barangay San Roque, Ginatilan, Cebu yesterday.

Four hours earlier, the body of Chand was flown back to Katmandu, Nepal. The remains were flown from the Cebu-Mactan International Airport at 11:30 a.m. yesterday for a flight to Manila via Philippine Air Lines. From Manila, the flight will have a brief stop in Thailand before flying to Nepal.

The casket of Bahinting was temporarily placed at the function room of the beach resort owned by the family for a one-night wake before interment today at a private cemetery in Ginatilan.

Relatives, friends, and neighbors waited for the arrival of Bahinting’s body as they praised how the pilot extended a helping hand during times when they needed help.

Bernabela Matas, 76, said her brother-in law was one of the kindest persons she knew who had done good things to her family and to the community.

“He has a selfless heart in helping other people who are in need,” Matas said.

Jesus Larot, 61, personally went to Ginatilan from Larena, Siquijor, to pay respects to his first cousin.

Larot said Bahinting was a great loss to them for he had helped them when they needed either financial or moral support.

Larot shared how the late captain struggled to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot even if it meant leaving Leyte, Bahinting’s home province.

Bahinting left Leyte and went to Davao where he started his dream of becoming a pilot. His study was sponsored by a foreigner friend who was a member of the Grace Communion International, a Catholic denomination.

Mrs. Bahinting thanked friends and even strangers for the support.

Rostica Sasan, 59, from Samboan town, said she personally went to Ginatilan to attend the wake out of curiosity.

Sasan said she never saw Bahinting or knew him personally but heard of his good deeds. – With Niña Sumacot, Ria Mae Booc/The Freeman