Mumbakis hold rituals at Ifugao crash site

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Mumbakis (tribal priests) conducted rituals earlier last week at the crash site of a presidential helicopter in Tinoc, Ifugao amid reports that some of those who retrieved the bodies of the eight fatalities have fallen ill since the operation.

“Some of the rescuers have been experiencing trauma with loss of sleep and appetite, that is why they requested for (the traditional rituals),” Ifugao Gov. Teddy Baguilat said.

The presidential Bell 412 helicopter was en route to Banaue town from Baguio City’s Loakan airport in the late afternoon of April 7. It crashed in Sitio Mangingihe, Barangay Mehe in Tinoc town on its way back, as it was unable to land in Banaue due to poor visibility. 

Those who died in the crash were Press Undersecretary Jose Capadocia Jr., Appointments Undersecretary Marilou Frostrom, Assistant Secretary Perlita Bandayanon, the President’s senior military aide Brig. Gen. Carlos Clet and his aide Demy Reyno, and the helicopter crew, Maj. Ronaldo Sacatani, Capt. Alvin Alegata and Sgt. Roe Gem Perez.

The group was to be the President’s advance party in Banaue where she was supposed to inspect a government road project.

Baguilat said the rituals were also meant to appease the dead and other spirits in the crash site who might have been “disturbed” by the rescue efforts.

Earlier, Malacañang bared plans to put up a memorial marker at the crash site at the eastern foot of Mt. Pulag, bearing the names of the fatalities and the rescuers.