Another soldier died from the tragic military plane crash in Patikul, Sulu last Sunday, July 4, raising the death toll to 53.
Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), confirmed Tuesday night, July 6, that the latest fatality was confined at the West Metro Medical Center in Zamboanga City following the tragedy that struck a Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport plane (tail number 5125) over the weekend.
He said the soldier, whose identity is yet to be revealed pending information of the next of kin, suffered chemical burns on his face. The soldier died on Monday night, July 5.
"Accordingly, he must have inhaled smoke which aggravated his medical condition," Sobejana said.
With the latest development, the aviation tragedy -- considered as one of the worst in the history of the country's military -- has since claimed the lives of 50 soldiers and three civilians.
Further, 46 military personnel and four civilians were being treated and monitored in different hospitals in Zamboanga City and Sulu province, with some of them still in critical condition.
Sobejana asked for prayers from the public that there would be no more soldiers who would add to the growing death toll in the Sulu plane crash.