A soldier who had been critically wounded when a C-130 cargo plane of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) crashed in Patikul, Sulu nearly two weeks ago succumbed to his injuries on Friday, July 16, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) confirmed.

The latest fatality was identified as Private Jesfel Mequiabas, a Philippine Army (PA) personnel and a native of Misamis Oriental.

Capt. Jonathan Zata, chief of AFP public affairs office (PAO), said Mequiabas expired around 2:30 a.m. at an undisclosed hospital.

"The AFP has reached out to his loved ones and his remains are being prepared to be transported to their hometown," Zata said.

The death toll in the tragic crash now stands at 53. Among the fatalities were 50 military personnel and three civilians.

Of the fatalities, 29 military personnel were already identified while the bodies of 21 other soldiers -- most of whom were burned beyond recognition -- were still being processed in funeral homes.

"The other cadavers still undergoing the tedious process of identification to ensure that they are reunited to their families as soon as possible," Zata said.

Meanwhile, 50 other individuals, including 46 soldiers, were also injured. They are now recuperating at various hospitals in Zamboanga City and Sulu.

As of this posting, investigators were still unable to determine the exact reason why the PAF's Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft with tail number 5125 crashed in Patikul town last July 4.

The plane was carrying 96 military personnel, most of whom were Army privates -- like Mequiabas -- who had just finished their training and were on their first deployment to conduct counter-terrorism operations in Sulu, a known lair of the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).