Soldiers based in Sulu still remember the tragedy that struck on July 4 this year when a Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft crashed after a failed landing at the Jolo airport. The crash, which claimed the lives of 50 military personnel and three civilians, is considered as the deadliest aviation accident in the history of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The memory of the crash remains fresh for some but on Saturday, December 11, all the grief was temporarily replaced with relief and gratitude as a C130 aircraft made a successful touchdown in Sulu to fetch 65 soldiers who availed of their Yuletide breaks.
The soldiers, along with three dependents and two civilians, were flown from Jolo to Manila via a C-130 plane with tail number 5011. They will spend their Christmas break with their families starting on Monday, December 13.
Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom), said this was the first time that a giant aircraft of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) landed in Sulu after the deadly air mishap five months ago.
“This is our simple way of honoring the selfless service of our comrades-in-arms. By sending them home safely to spend the holiday season with their families, we are able to boost their morale,” Rosario said.
“We are also able to help them financially by providing them with free transportation,” he added.
While the families and comrades of the soldiers who perished in the Sulu crash were still trying to heal from the pain of losing their loved ones, Major Gen. William Gonzales, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, expressed hope the holiday season would remind them that the troops’ deaths have not been in vain as they fulfilled their duty of ensuring a peaceful Christmas celebration for the Filipinos.
“The successful landing of the aircraft today signifies that we are ready to move forward. We hope that this momentous event will totally heal us from the trauma we had due to the accident last July 4,” Gonzales said.
The PAF has only one active Lockheed C-130 Hercules to date while two others are under maintenance.