Some 29 military personnel and two civilians on the ground were killed when a Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 aircraft crashed on Sunday (July 4) morning in Patikul, Sulu.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said a C-130 aircraft crashed in Sitio Amman, Brgy. Bangkal, Patikul, Sulu at 11:30 a.m.
As of 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, 50 personnel were hospitalized, while some 17 were evacuated to Western Mindanao Command Hospital in Zamboanga to undergo further treatment.
About four civilians on the ground were also injured in the incident.
PAF Public Affairs Chief Lt. Col. Maynard Mariano said the aircraft with tail number 5125 “took off from Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base, Pasay City to Lumbia Airport, Cagayan de Oro City and subsequently ferried personnel to Jolo, Sulu.”
In a separate statement, Joint Task Force (JTF) Sulu Public Information Office said that on board the plane were new Philippine Army privates who were en route to their deployment to end terrorism in Sulu.
“We remain to be hopeful that we could find more survivors. Our search and rescue is still ongoing with 17 personnel unaccounted [for]. These individuals were supposed to report to their battalions today,” JTF Sulu Commander Maj. Gen. William Gonzales said in a news release.
Rescue efforts and investigation are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement that he has instructed PNP Regional Director and Police Regional Office – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region to coordinate with the AFP in extending search and rescue assistance, as well as attending to the medical needs of the survivors.
Malacañang also extended their sympathy to the victims of the aircraft crash.
“We are deeply saddened by the C-130 mishap in Sulu. Rescue efforts are ongoing, and we are one in praying for the safe recovery of the passengers. Let us wait for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to release an update on this very unfortunate incident,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement on Sunday. – Report from PTV News / CF- jlo
