Wednesday, August 27, 2008 President orders aid for kin of C-130 plane crew
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to attend to the needs of the families of the crew of the Air Force C-130 plane that crashed off Davao City Monday night.
The aircraft, with two pilots and seven other crewmen, was reported missing Monday night. It had yet to be found as of early Tuesday evening.
Presidential deputy spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said Arroyo, who was saddened by the incident, is awaiting an initial report on the cause of the crash from the Philippine Air Force.
"She (President Arroyo) has issued instructions to agencies like the DSWD to coordinate with the families of the victims and (provide) whatever assistance the government can give especially most of them are government employees as well," she said.
The plane reportedly lost contact a few minutes after it took off from Davao at 8:50 p.m.
It was bound for Iloilo pick up members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) that provided security during the President’s short visit last Monday in the town of Jaro to attend the wake of Lieutenant Colonel Angelo Benitez who was killed in a clash with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte.
Air Force Chief Pedrito Cadungog hoped that the two pilots of the aircraft, Major Manuel Zambrano and Captain Adrian de Dios, and seven crewmembers are still alive.
“We are really praying hard that they are somewhere else, very safe and alive and that is our serious hope. Otherwise, it’s so hard for us to accept the fact that our comrades are gone,” Cadungog said.
“Although we are always ready to sacrifice our lives for the country, for God and people but how I wish, I pray hard, we are all praying hard that they are alive and safe somewhere else,” he said.
He said military and civilian aircraft and even ships from the Navy and Coast Guard are doing their best to find the pilots and the crewmen.
Likewise, Cadungog said they have asked the US Pacific Command to also help in the search. (JMR/VR/Sunnex)
