MANILA, Philippines – Just a week after losing Dr. Israel Bactol to COVID-19, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) has lost another young doctor who was killed in the plane crash during a medical evacuation of a patient to Haneda, Japan. Dr. Cenover Nicandro “Nicko” Bautista was among the eight people on board the Lion Air Westwind RP-C5880 ambulance aircraft.
READ: Plane crashes at NAIA; 8 people onboard dead
“It is with extreme sadness that I inform you that PLM lost another one of its own while performing his sworn duty to save lives. Dr Nicko Bautista, 2014 graduate of the PLM College of Medicine perished in the medevac crash earlier tonight at NAIAA airport en route to Haneda, Japan to bring a patient there for treatment. Dr. Bautista is the 2nd PLM doctor that we lost in two weeks. Dr Israel Bactol died last week due to COVID 19 infection,” the Office of the PLM President announced on its official Facebook page.
In the post, the PLM president shared two photos of the doctor posing outside the plane and another inside the aircraft, before the plane took off. “Doctor on call”, Dr. Nicko wrote, with several hashtags, including #airliftMD and #longhairdontcare.
Earlier, the young doctor had also posted a photo taken in front of the air ambulance, with a fervent prayer that this, referring to COVID-19, will all pass. In the post, Dr. Nicko expressed apprehension over the uncertainties brought about the virus and that he is #notyetready. With so many doctors dying or getting sick of COVID-19, his concern is so easy to understand.
Dr. Nicko’s sister Ria Bautista, the former Paramita lead vocalist, confirmed that her brother was among those who died in the plane crash. Overcome with grief, she shared her brother’s last Facebook post.
“I lost my brother on that flight. No words can describe how devastating it is to lose a family member in such a horrific way. How do you process something like this. How. All I know is that he fought like a hero and I can only hope that his fight would not be in vain. RIP, Nicko. I love you my brother. I will honor you forever,” Ria announced.
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
READ: Plane crashes at NAIA; 8 people onboard dead
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| Photo credit: Office of the PLM President / Facebook |
“It is with extreme sadness that I inform you that PLM lost another one of its own while performing his sworn duty to save lives. Dr Nicko Bautista, 2014 graduate of the PLM College of Medicine perished in the medevac crash earlier tonight at NAIAA airport en route to Haneda, Japan to bring a patient there for treatment. Dr. Bautista is the 2nd PLM doctor that we lost in two weeks. Dr Israel Bactol died last week due to COVID 19 infection,” the Office of the PLM President announced on its official Facebook page.
In the post, the PLM president shared two photos of the doctor posing outside the plane and another inside the aircraft, before the plane took off. “Doctor on call”, Dr. Nicko wrote, with several hashtags, including #airliftMD and #longhairdontcare.
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| Photo credit: Office of the PLM President / Facebook |
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| Photo credit: Ria Bautista |
Dr. Nicko’s sister Ria Bautista, the former Paramita lead vocalist, confirmed that her brother was among those who died in the plane crash. Overcome with grief, she shared her brother’s last Facebook post.
“I lost my brother on that flight. No words can describe how devastating it is to lose a family member in such a horrific way. How do you process something like this. How. All I know is that he fought like a hero and I can only hope that his fight would not be in vain. RIP, Nicko. I love you my brother. I will honor you forever,” Ria announced.
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
