24-year-old Loui Raymund Pestaño, a Cebuano medical student of the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila died in Ormoc City last Thursday afternoon after a skydiving accident. He was the son of former director of the Philippine National Police Finance Service and former provincial director of Capiz Police Provincial Office. Pestaño was with members of the Cebu Parachute Club when the accident happened around 2 p.m.
The Cebu skydivers were invited to perform in a skydiving exhibition during the 64th Charter Day celebration of Ormoc City.
Witnesses said the Loui Raymond Pestaño’s parachute did not open after he jumped from a Cessna plane with his instructor identified only as Gary. He landed on a rice paddy meters away from the airport runway, and was rushed to the Ormoc Sugarcane Planters Association-Farmers Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Ormoc City Police Office director Nilo Donaire said Loui Raymond Pestaño was with the group of skydivers who were training at the Ormoc airport. He was with another student for their beginner’s jump. The other student, however, did not push through with the jump after the briefing.
Donaire said members of the Cebu Parachute Club who performed the skydiving exhibition all landed safely.
Loui Raymond Pestaño’s father, Orlando, witnessed the accident, and said he will have the parachute malfunction investigated.