The remains of Major Eraño Belen, a Negrense soldier who died in a helicopter crash in Tarlac last week, has arrived at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City yesterday.

The Philippine Air Force member was given an arrival honors at the airport.

Major Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of 3rd Infantry Division, said the remains of the Dumaguete native was brought to their residence at Barangay Alijis in Bacolod City.

He will be laid to rest at Heavens Gate Cemetery in Talisay City, Negros Occidental on Sunday morning, he added.

The 34-year old student pilot was the valedictorian of Masidlak Class of 2010 of the Philippine Military Academy.

On June 23, Belen and five other crewmen were on board one of the Philippine Air Force's Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk combat utility helicopters.

The group were having a night flight training when the crash happened in Capas town.

The PAF, in a statement, said they grieve for the loss. It will conduct a thorough inquiry to determine the circumstances of the unfortunate incident.

All Black Hawk utility helicopters have been grounded until the conclusion of the investigation.

The Philippine government has procured a total of 16 Sikorsky S70-i Black Hawk helicopters from Polish company Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Sp.z.o.o.

Six arrived last year while five arrived on June 7 this year.

The last five Black Hawks are expected to be delivered in November 2021. (EPN)