Friday, September 05, 2008 C-130 search, a US operation: official
THE search for the wreckage of the C-130 Hercules plane that crashed into the Davao Gulf on August 25 has become a US operation with the Philippine authority only playing second fiddle.
Naval Forces of Eastern Mindanao commander Captain Rosauro Arnel Gonzales admitted that Task Force Hercules, the body created by the Philippine government to search and retrieve the plane along with its nine passengers, is now concentrating on providing "force protection" to the US Navy Ship John McDonnel.
Technically, Gonzales said the search operation is a US operation considering that all of its findings will be relayed first to the US Embassy before it would be given to the Philippine authorities.
He said even the Philippine Navy that has the authority over the Davao Gulf could not impose anything on the US Navy ship operation.
"The US Navy ship has a free hand in conducting its own operation. We are just here now to provide security for them. But whatever they find will augment whatever TF Hercules has recovered so far," Gonzales said.
It was learned that the diplomatic clearance of McDonnel has expired on September 2.
Gonzales however said it was readily renewed so that the ship could continue its search into the depths of the Davao Gulf.
He meanwhile expressed optimism that the US ship could locate the C-130 wreckage anytime soon considering the high-tech equipments they use.
The US ship's equipment could detect object from as deep as 2,000 feet. Gonzales said the depth of the Davao Gulf ranges from 600-800 feet, thus the ship will have no problem locating the plane.
On Wednesday, the US ship's officials asked two charts of the whole Davao Gulf and the possible areas where the plane crashed.
Gonzales said this could be a positive indication that the search has had substantial findings. (BOT)
