Besides family members, Kupang Police and South Timor Tengah (TTS) Police personnel were also there to grieve and pay their respects. Earlier, TTS regent Paul and Tonce’s wife Ceria Pandidik and their two children went to Jakarta to arrange the return of the pilot’s body.  

Alexander Manao could not hold back his tears after seeing the coffin of his son’s body being put inside an ambulance, which would take Tonce to his final resting place in the family’s hometown in Kesetnana village, South Mollo district, TTS, 110 kilometers northeast of Kupang.

Alexander said he was really sad. As a Christian, however, Alexander believed that whatever happened in life was God’s plan, which was always more beautiful than what people desired.

“I will entrust everything in God’s hands. All the things that happen in my family’s life are part of God’s plan.”

Grief: Ceria Pandidik (center), the wife of Comr. Tonce Manao, a police Skytruck aircraft pilot who was killed in a crash in Riau Islands waters on Dec. 3, embraces her father-in-law, Alexander Manao, after she arrives at El Tari Airport in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Dec. 18. (JP/Djemi Amnifu)

NTT Police spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr. Jules Abraham Abast said to honor all of Tonce’s achievements during his service, the National Police had increased his rank one level to police commissioner.

Abast said Tonce would be laid to rest in a full police funeral procession in Kesetnana at 9 a.m. on Monday. TTS Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. I Ketut Adnyana was set to officiate the funeral procession, he added. (ebf)

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