Sunday, June 24, 2007 Crash victims’ kin plan lawsuit
THE families of seven of nine persons who died when a helicopter crashed in Lapu-Lapu City two months ago are planning to go to court after the Philippine Air Force (PAF) allegedly reneged on its promise to compensate them.
Their lawyer, Alex Tolentino, said suing is their last option, but they will resort to it if higher officials would not intervene and the PAF continues ignoring the families’ demands.
He said they grew suspicious when they asked for an accident report and were refused, after being told that it is a “classified report.”
“Naa gyud sila’y gitaguan (They really are hiding something),” said Tolentino, who is convinced that recklessness played a role in the disaster.
What they have is only a Philippine National Police spot report on the crash. Tolentino also said his assistance is part of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines’ legal aid program.
Can’t afford it
They will also ask Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to request President Arroyo to intervene.
In a separate interview, Maj. Gen. Pedro Ike Yncierto of the Tactical Operations Command (TOC) told Sun.Star Cebu that PAF has no money for compensation.
Seven civilians and two military men died when a PAF helicopter crashed on two tricycles in Barangay Gun-ob last April 28.
Tolentino met yesterday with the victims’ loved ones, who said that while they were given P858,455.28 cash as burial aid, PAF had promised additional compensation.
“After burial makig-negotiate kuno sila og legal claim sa amo (After the victims’ burial, PAF officials said they will negotiate with us on our legal claims), so we were expecting something,” said Ronald and Cherryl Laida, who lost a niece and a nephew in the accident.
PAF officials were the ones who told them about the “legal claims.”
But Yncierto said that being war materials, PAF’s assets are not insured, as no insurance company would take that risk.
They have a limited budget, specifically on accident compensation, he added.
Understanding
The general said the victims are asking for sustenance, which PAF could not give. “I can understand them, but they should also understand us,” he said.
He admitted they have contingency funds, which was why they released P2.4 million as burial and medical assistance, subject to audit.
It took some time, he added, as higher headquarters had to clear it.
But the families and survivors said that based on a PAF document they got, they received a total of only P1.27 million, which covered the burial aid and hospital bills of Noel Imbong (P364,144.20) and Casimira Yanson’s P45,364.65.
Yncierto, though, said the document did not include the destroyed tricycles that they replaced with new ones.
He and the victims’ families met last June 14 at the PAF conference room, where he reportedly said they cannot release any additional amount.
“They promised we would get more, but 40 days have passed and we still got nothing,” said Cherryl Laida.
Yncierto, she said, urged them to seek the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes’ help. (OCP)
