Kin pray missing plane's passengers still alive in Sierra Madre mountains

By Vince Jacob Visaya

CAUAYAN CITY -- It has been more than a week since the Cessna plane was reported missing in Isabela but the relatives of the five passengers and the pilot believe they survived the crash in the Sierra Madre mountains.
    "We firmly believe and pray that they are safe and we hope that they will be home soon," Anna May Kamatoy said.
    Kamatoy is the mother of 20-year-old Mark Eiron and 10-year-old Xam Siguerra, aunt of 15-year-old Rom Josthle "RJ" Manaday, and sister of 34-year-old Val Kamatoy.
    The plane's fifth passenger was identified as Josefa Perla España, a trader from Maconacon, and the pilot was Capt. Eleazar Mark Joven.
    Kamatoy said she and her mother remain in Silang, Cavite, while waiting for news while their other relatives have been in Isabela to personally coordinate with the search and rescue teams.
    On Jan. 24, the Gen AV Cessna aircraft with tail number RP-C1174 departed Cauayan Domestic Airport at 2:16 p.m. and was supposed to land at 3 p.m. at the Maconacon airport.
    Kamatoy, meanwhile, denied reports that Mark Eiron was able to send a text message and chat to his friends that they were heading back to Cauayan City due to bad weather. Kamatoy admitted getting the information but it was confirmed to be untrue when she called up her son's friends to verify the information.

Her son's last message in their group chat was when they were about to take off after boarding the plane.

Kamatoy tried to ask the telecommunications company if they could track and locate his son's mobile phone but without success.

She thanked rescuers for continuing to find the plane and asked for God's guidance and grace.

The multisector teams have 105 rescuers for aerial and ground searches aside from local volunteer groups.

Kamatoy also said that Builders Corp., the plane's owner, has not reached out to her to offer any form of assistance.

"Why are they not contacting us? And why are they not helping us?" she asked.