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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senators call for thorough probe of PAF military plane crash

Senators call for thorough probe of PAF military plane crash

Published Jul 5, 2021 11:20 am

Senators on Monday, July 5, sought a thorough investigation into the military plane crash in Sulu and the immediate release of available assistance to the families of the soldiers affected in the incident.

“This is indeed a devastating incident for our Filipino soldiers who brave the frontlines every day to carry out their duty of protecting and serving their fellowmen,” Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said in a statement.

“As we urge full assistance to their bereaved ones, we also seek a thorough investigation on the cause of the crash and to find ways to avert another tragedy,” Pangilinan added.

Senator Grace Poe, likewise, called on authorities to exhaust all remedies to rescue the missing and extend assistance to the soldiers’ family.

“We mark this terrible loss of life with a reminder of the sacrifices our brave Filipino soldiers make each day in the name of duty to serve the country,” Poe said.

“At the right time, we expect a thorough investigation of the incident to see what can be done to avoid a repeat of the tragic crash and to put in place measures to make our military planes safe,” she said.

“We pray for the speedy recovery of those who survived but are injured, and pray for the lessening of the pain that they are feeling right now. We thank all of them for their service to the Filipino nation,” Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, III said on his part.

Sen. Joel Villanueva echoed the call: “We trust that the circumstances that led to the crash will be thoroughly probed as ordered by Defense Secretary (Delfin) Lorenzana before our air assets are allowed to fly again.”

“No Filipino soldier, who lays his life for our country, should die from our military hardware,” Villanueva stressed.

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, also condoled with the families of the victims in the crash.

“Before the Senate even thinks of exercising oversight on the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) procurement of their air assets under the AFP modernization program, as chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, I would rather that we pause to pray for the souls of those who perished in that newly acquired billion-peso, ill-fated C-130 plane as well as for the full and speedy recovery of the injured passengeres,” Lacson said.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa also said he opts to wait for the results of the investigation of the Department of National Defense (DND) before he lays the blame on the antiquated military aircrafts.

“It’s about time that we in the legislature take a second hard look at the reality that lives lost from these so-called ‘flying coffins’ or ‘widow makers’ are priceless compared to the foreign debt that we may incur as a result of military modernization,” Dela Rosa stressed.

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Senate PAF military plane crash Sulu C-130 crash
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