Tribal cleanse rites held at helicopter crash site

By Dexter A See

TINOC, Ifugao — Tribal elders and local officials recently conducted cleansing and blessing rites here at the area where Bell 412, an ill-fated presidential chopper, crashed on April 7..

The crash at Mt. Mangengeheh, Eheb here resulted in the death of eight presidential aides.

The tribal rites were meant to appease the spirits that were disturbed by the accident.

The cleansing and blessing rites at the crash site, highlighted by butchering of two native pigs, were done after it was reported some rescuers could not recover from the trauma they experienced when they were retrieving the bodies of the victims.

Gov. Teddy Baguilat Jr. said some of the affected rescuers said hey could not sleep and eat well because the memories of the rescue operations keep flashing back in their minds.

He said there is a need for the elders to perform traditional rituals and cleansing rites as well as blessing of the area to appease the mountain spirits as well as for the eternal repose of the souls of the victims.

Last week, tribal elders and municipal officials of Kabayan, Benguet performed a canao in the town plaza to drive away the evil spirits at Mount Pulag and prevent a repetition of a chopper or plane crash in the future. It was also intended to seek eternal repose of the souls of the dead aides of President Arroyo.

The crash site is said to be an area being contested by the towns of Kabayan, Benguet, and Tinoc, Ifugao as their local governments are claiming jurisdiction over the forested area, one of the few remaining virgin forests in the region.

Baguilat expressed hopes the cleansing rituals and the blessing of the crash site could put an end to the trauma of the rescuers.

In the afternoon of April 7, 2009, the presidential chopper with eight persons on board was on its way to Banaue, Ifugao on a low-trek flight in preparation for the visit of the President to the province the following day.

On the same day, the chopper was reported missing after it failed to reach its destination