(Screenshot photo from Laging Handa)
By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The search and rescue operation for the six passengers of the Cessna 206 plane that was declared missing on Tuesday, Jan. 24, in the province of Isabela has resumed after it was halted due to bad weather.
In the Jan. 26 Laging Handa briefing, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Spokesperson Eric Apolonio narrated that the plane took off at Cauayan Airport in Isabela but did not arrive at its destination in Maconacon, Isabela.
According to Apolonio, the joint forces of the 95th Infantry ‘Salaknib’ Battalion, Maconacon Police Station, and Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC) are conducting aerial and ground search operations.
“Noon pong Martes, nagkaroon ng coordination ang DRRMC [Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council] ng Cauayan, Philippine Air Force at saka ‘yung airport management diyan sa Cauayan Airport po,” Apolonio said.
He stated that they have already coordinated with the families of the six missing passengers and expressed their desire to find them immediately.
Bad weather stalled the previous search and rescue operations.
“Well, actually nabigyan ho namin ng notice, but usually ‘yung ganitong sitwasyon, nauuna ho dapat makipag-usap ‘yung may ari ng eroplano, dahil sila ho ang responsible dyan sa mga tao na yan na pasahero nila,” he said.
“Sana maunawaan nyo [na] rin na gusto rin naming makita immediately, but ‘yung weather po ‘yung nagiging factor, but hindi ho kami titigil na hanapin ito as long ‘yung weather permits,” he added. -ag
