Saturday, August 04, 2007 Nalzaro: Heartless Air Force? By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
RELATIVES of the victims of the Air Force chopper crash last April 28 in Lapu-Lapu City visited me the other day and expressed their frustration and disgust over Air Force officials reneging with their promise to give them additional compensation. In that incident, nine people were killed, seven of them civilians with the other two Air Force pilots.
The victims' relatives claimed that Air Force officers give them a runaround every time they seek a dialogue with them while following up their claims.
The actuation of these Air Force officers has prompted them to seek the intervention of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas. The local anti-graft body has already referred the matter to the Ombudsman for the military.
Relatives and guardians of the civilian fatalities also filed a criminal complaint for violation of Articles 84 and 97 of the Articles of War with the Judge Advocate General Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Named respondents were Lt. Gen. Horacio Tolentino, commanding general of the Air Force; Maj. Gen. Pedro Ike Insierto, chief of the Air Force's Tactical Operations Command based in the Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan; Brig. Gen. Arthur Mancinido of the 205th Helicopter Wing; Capt. Allan Villarica; and S/Sgt. Johnny Reyes.
Though the victims' relatives have admitted that the Air Force gave them financial assistance during the wake and burial of those killed, they also said that the promised additional compensations were not given.
The victims' relatives claimed that in one of their dialogues with Insierto, the general bluntly told them that the Air Force has no money to compensate the victims. He said that even the financial assistance extended to the families during the wake and burial of those killed came from their personal funds. The families were given P10,000 each as burial assistance.
Ano ba yan, General? Pinaasa nyo 'yong mga tawo, 'yon pala wala. Saan ba ang puso n'yo?
To appease the victims' relatives, officials allowed some of them to join the Air Force even if they were not qualified.
There were those who availed of the offer. Meanwhile, owners of the two tricycles that were damaged when the chopper directly hit them were given brand new units. But after the tricycle driver who survived the incident was released from the hospital, the Air Force stopped giving him medicines.
The victims' relatives said they already accepted what happened because it was an accident. What hurt them was the Air Force officers' cold treatment every time they talked about additional compensation. They said they asked for it because it was promised to them. Children of the victims, who were family bread winners before they died, had to stop schooling because of financial woes.
I don't personally know the victims or their relatives but I can sympathize with them. Col. Mario "Butch" Lacson of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing told dySS reporter Bong Soriano that they are still making representations with military higher-ups for additional compensation. But for how long will the victims' relatives wait? Should they expect nothing from what can be considered a heartless Air Force?
Dapat iklaro 'nyo yan at huwag magpalabas ng pangako na hindi naman tinutupad.
