When presidential front-runner Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III decided to hold a press conference at a funeral parlor last Friday, many reporters who attended it said it was a bad omen.

It maybe superstitious belief but just several days after the “unusual” press conference, one of Aquino’s closest ally – Quezon Governor Rafael Nantes and five others – were killed when their helicopter developed engine trouble and crashed at a residential subdivision in Lucena City shortly after takeoff Monday afternoon.

The bodies of Nantes, his two aides – M/Sgt. Alfred Dominguez and PO3 Randy Roferez – and Capt. Nestor Sanchez, the pilot, were all charred. Two civilians who were inside one of the houses were also confirmed to have died.

Nantes was the national treasurer of Aquino’s Liberal Party who ran for reelection in the May 10 polls, but lost to administration candidate David Suarez, son ofreelected Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez.

He was seen with Aquino and running mate Sen. Manuel Roxas II at the Enriquez Funeral Homes where the senator from Tarlac visited the wake of Col. Arnulfo Obillos, who was killed in a shooting incident in Cavite province on election day.

Obillos was the chief of staff of Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, a member of Aquino and Roxas' Liberal Party.

After condoling with the family of Obillos, Aquino and Roxas decided to hold a press conference at the funeral chapel nearby.

When the media arrived for the press conference, everyone initially refused to stay inside the chapel where the press conference was supposed to be held due to the strong formalin-like smell inside.

This prompted a chapel attendant to spray fragrance inside the venue.

Roxas who was also with Aquino recounted that he even had a lengthy talk with Nantes at the funeral parlor whom he said was “full of life.”

Radio reporter Jun Lingcoran, who is a close friend and provincemate of Nantes, said he observed that the Quezon governor looked gloomy when they greeted each other and shook hands at the Enrique Funeral Homes.

Lingcoran, who is part of the media covering the Aquino campaign, said the press conference conducted inside the funeral chapel may be a bad omen.

Most of the mediamen admitted it was the first time they covered a press conference inside a funeral chapel.

Aquino's close staff, Zaldy de Loyola who initially scouted for the venue earlier that day told media men that the chapel was indeed unsuited for holding a press conference.

De Loyola knew this being a former newsman himself who covered Aquino in congress many years back.

After that press conference, Aquino was immediately bombarded with criticisms on his pronouncements made inside that funeral chapel particularly the one he made about taking his oath of office before a barangay chairman.

Nantes was also spotted several times at the Hacienda Luisita, first was the day after the elections. He was seen talking with Aquino while seated on a sofa inside the Aquino Center. Sources said Nantes was complaining to Aquino against certain partymates who reportedly “junked” him in the gubernatorial race in Quezon province.

Another broadcaster, Anthony Taberna, claimed that he even received a text message from Nantes before the incident.

“I was supposed to meet him today (Tuesday) for an interview regarding the issue of electoral fraud,” Taberna said in an early morning television program.

He said Nantes called him back and suggested they meet in person instead of talking on the phone where someone might be listening.

“You see, my telephone is bugged,” Taberna quoted Nantes as telling him.