Thursday, September 04, 2008 US navy ship's clearance expires, survey continues
TASK Force C-130, the task force created to head the search for the missing Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 Hercules plane that crashed into Davao Gulf last week, remains clueless on what the US Navy survey boat has discovered so far.
US Navy Ship John MacDonnell was still scanning the depths of the Davao Gulf as of Wednesday, a day after its diplomatic clearance to be in Philippine waters expired.
According to Captain Rosauro Arnel Gonzalez, chief of TF C-130, they have not received any updates regarding the search operations of the US Navy.
"They are still in the Davao Gulf," Gonzalez replied to queries as to the status of the search being conducted by the US Navy ship.
The USNS John MacDonnell has been scouring the Davao Gulf since Monday this week after the joint operations of the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the PAF have been futile in the search of the crash site of the 97-foot long C-130 aircraft due to the lack and absence of sophisticated equipment.
Prior to the arrival of the USNS John MacDonnell, the TF C-130 was only using sonar equipment of private professional divers and fishers in Davao City and General Santos City.
At present, TF C-130 is conducting security operations to ensure the safety of the US Navy ship while it is within Philippine waters. (CPM)
