Philippine Air Force buying new trainer jets

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is ordering this year a number of brand new aircraft.

These include 12 lead-in fighter trainer jets, eight light transports, three medium transports and attack helicopters.

The PAF said the order is among 38 contracts that the air branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will sign this year. Delivery of the aircraft is expected in two years.

“Within the year we expect to sign contracts. We have 38 projects lined up, foremost of which is the FAA lead-in fighter trainer or LIFT. We have attack helicopters coming, light transports and medium transports that are slightly smaller than the C-130 cargo plane” currently in use, PAF spokesperson Col. Miguel Okol said.

“They have been approved by the senior leadership (of the Department of National Defense),” he added.

He said the rest of the 38 contracts were still being finalized.

From being one of the best in Southeast Asia during the 1960s, the Air Force fleet gradually deteriorated and became obsolete without being replaced, leaving the country with no external defense capability.

To upgrade the entire military’s capabilities, the DND and AFP are working to fast-track the approval by July this year of a total of 138 contracts.

The contracts, mostly aimed at boosting badly depleted air and naval assets, would be implemented for the duration of the Aquino administration.

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Dona Z. Pazzibugan | Philippine Daily Inquirer | May 27, 2012 | Article Link

DND chief: PAF to have more air assets within the year

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will be getting more flyable assets to fulfill its mandate to serve and protect the country.

The command will get two additional C-130 "Hercules" cargo aircraft, four more W-3A "Sokol" combat utility helicopters, and 21 refurbished UH-IH "Huey" general purpose helicopters before the end of the year.

"Our two C-130s will soon come out of its inspection and repair period and boost our 'Hercules" fleet to three. On the other hand, our W-3A "Sokol" will grow by eight as another four will be delivered by November to join the four earlier commissioned last March," Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said.

Aside from this, PAF will be putting into service 21 UH-1H "Hueys" into squadron service before the end of 2012.

The DND chief added that this is on top of the 10 attack helicopters following the signing and approval of the contract.

But when asked about the timetable on the PAF's acquisition of new fighter aircraft for its interceptor arm, Gazmin said that they are still in the process of assessing what is the most affordable and capable aircraft for the Philippines.

"We are in the process of the defense acquisition system that will be presented within the month and we are looking at several aircraft from South Korea, Italy, and the United States," Gazmin said.

The PAF is currently operating 48 UH-IH "Huey" general purpose helicopters, 18 MG-520 "Defender" attack helicopters, eight OV-10 North American "Bronco" turboprop bombers and three S-211 Augusta trainer jets.

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Philippine News Agency/ People's Television | May 10, 2012 | Article Link

Philippines junks plan to buy 'ageing' F16s

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippines has abandoned plans to purchase “ageing” F16 fighter jets from the United States after deciding repairing and refurbishing the aircraft would cost too much.

“F16 is an ageing air asset that will be given to us. It’s mothballed and if you’re going to refurbish it, we have to evaluate because it will cost too much,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told a news briefing.

Even after refurbishing, he added, the jets would only have three to four years of flying time left.

“Lugi ka (You lose),” Gazmin said.

The defense chief said the fighter jets were not brought up during the 2+2 meeting with US officials in Washington.

However, the Philippine government has lined up the purchase of several air assets,
including 21 Vietnam War-vintage UH1H helicopters, 10 attack helicopters and two C130 cargo planes.

The Philippines is also expecting four additional SoKol choppers within the year.

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Abigail Kwok | Interaksyon.com | May 9, 2012 | Article Link

Air Force to have two more C-130

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua)  - The Air Force of the Philippines (AFP) will have two additional C-130 planes within the next few months in a move to strengthen the military's heavy-lift capability, Air Force Chief Maj. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz said today.

According to Cruz, the first additional C-130 is expected to arrive from the United States, where it is undergoing repair; the second one, which is being repaired in the Philippines, will be available by September or October.

At present, the Air Force has only one C-130, and the arrival of the two C-130 planes would augment its heavy-lift capability, Cruz said.

The C-130 is used by the military to transport troops and supplies. It has also been used to transport relief goods and other supplies for victims of typhoons and other forms of calamities.

The Air Force is expecting by November four additional Sokol helicopters from Augusta PZL Swidnick, an Italian and Polish firm, which signed a P2.8 billion ($65.6 million) contract with the AFP for the delivery of eight Sokol combat utility helicopters.

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The Philippine Star | March 11,2012 | Article Link

Philippine Air Force says cargo planes to become operational

Two C130 cargo planes of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) will become operational during the first quarter of 2012 as part of the ongoing capability upgrade of the 20,000-strong military command.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said that the two Air Force C130s are now undergoing maintenance procedures — one in the United States and the other in Clarkfield, Pampanga.

“Within the first semester, sometime in March or April, we will be having three operational C130,” Burgos said.

At present, the Air Force only has one operational C130 being used in logistics and troop transport and even in disaster response.

“This will bolster our troop lift capability, transportation of goods and even our disaster response, we will be more efficient in terms of disaster response,” Burgos said.

For his part, Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol said that part of the PAF’s capability upgrade program is the acquisition of a fourth C130.

“With this additional two, we will now have three plus it is included in our capability upgrade program the acquisition of another one,” Okol said.

Okol echoed Burgos’ statements that the additional cargo planes will certainly boost the PAF’s capability.

“Of course, it will increase our capability… our heavy lift capability will be enhanced… and disaster response, national development, those things could be addressed,” Okol said.

Aside from the additional C130s, the Air Force is also upbeat on the possibility of acquiring F16 fighter jets from the United States.

The Air Force is also scheduled to receive eight Sokol helicopters, worth P2.8 billion, early this year as part of its capability upgrade. 

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By Mario J. Mallari

01/12/2012

The Daily Tribune

Link

Philippine Air Force to get 2 reconditioned C-130 planes

MANILA, Philippines - Two C-130 cargo planes will be added to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) inventory within the first quarter of this year.

At present, the PAF is mainly relying on a lone C-130 Hercules aircraft in hauling of supplies and logistics, as well as troops for internal and territorial defense.

“We have two C-130 cargo planes coming in by March and April,” said Armed Forces deputy chief of staff for plans and programs Brig. Gen. Roy Deveraturda.

The first C-130 would be flying in from the United States, while the other is now being refurbished at Clark Field.

Air Force spokesman Col. Miguel Okol said the two C-130 cargo planes will boost the Air Force capabilities in terms of troop deployment, logistic runs, and search and disaster operations.

“From one, we will soon have two more C-130 cargo planes,” he said.

“That’s really something that we are expecting.” 

Okol could not say how much the government spent for the two refurbished Hercules aircraft.

The Air Force is also expecting the arrival of eight brand-new utility and combat-attack helicopters during the first quarter of this year.

President Aquino’s visit to the United States this April is expected to finally seal a deal for the acquisition of F-16 fighter jets.

Earlier, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the country intends to acquire a squadron F-16 fighter jet from the US.
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By Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star) Updated January 12, 2012 12:00 AM
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NFA finally brings rice to Batanes

BASCO, Batanes, Philippines – A Philippine Air Force cargo plane arrived here shortly before noon Saturday to bring government rice to the 13,000 residents of this northernmost province.

The C-130 Hercules cargo plane arrived from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City with 400 bags of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) central warehouse in Manila.

The plane, under the command of Capt. Michael Tabat, braved the rains and cloudy skies to make a safe landing at the government airport here.

Local residents have had no rice on their tables since three weeks ago when the NFA ran out of stocks.

Melad Enterprises, which sells commercial rice here, earlier had run out of stocks, too.

The situation arose from the lack of shipments due to the inclement weather.

The M/V Transcend, which is under contract with NFA to transport the monthly rice requirements of the province, went into dry dock last October.

Rice brought in by commercial planes from Manila and Tuguegarao City, Cagayan costs four times than that transported by boat.

On hand to welcome the rice delivery were Rep. Henedina Abad, NFA chief Francisco Escalona, and Basco airport chief Wilfredo Cabitac.

Abad said the airlift was made possible through the representations of Agriculture Secretary Proseco Alcala with the Armed Forces.

Each family is allocated two kilos of rice, Escalona said.

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By Jack Castaño III The Philippine Star Updated January 02, 2012 12:00 AM

Link

Relief goods for Typhoon victims in Philippines

Soldiers loads relief goods on a military plane at the Air Force headquarters in Manila December 23, 2011, for transportation to Typhoon Washi victims in Mindanao province, southern Philippines. Philippine disaster agency said on Friday more than 1,000 people were missing from a storm and flash floods last week, sharply raising the number of victims unnaccounted for as the true extent of the disaster became known. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco 
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Yahoo News
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Headline of the Week: Philippine Air Force C-130 Crash

Air Force: Missing C-130 plane did not carry explosives

08/30/2008 | 03:27 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Amid speculations that the missing C-130 aircraft exploded in mid-air, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Saturday said the plane was not carrying any explosives.

GMA News reporter Marisol Abdurahman, in her report over QTV’s Balitanghali , said that according to various accounts of fishermen, the plane hasn’t even risen that high yet when the aircraft exploded in mid-air last Monday night.

Although pieces of body parts, boots, pieces of aircraft material and uniform were found in the sea, the Air Force said that search and recovery teams still couldn’t conclude that the C-130 really did explode.

“Kung sasabog ho ang engine, dapat may makikita tayong mga (If it really did explode then we would have seen an) explosion o kung sakali mang sumabog iyon, dapat may (if it did explode) pieces of evidence na marerecover (would be recovered)," said Major General Jobito Gammad, head of PAF’s investigating team, in a press conference.

The Air Force also assured the public that the missing aircraft was not carrying any explosives.

It added that the two army soldiers who were on board the C-130, Corporal Bernie Sabangan and Master Sergeant Remijio Libres, were not carrying explosives either. The two were not included in the first list of passengers given to the media.

Authorities earlier identified those on board the plane were Maj. Manuel A. Zambrano, pilot; Capt. Adrian de Dios, co-pilot; and its crew members — Technical Sergeant Lobregas Constantino and Staff Sergeants John Ariola, Gerry Denioso, Felix Patraica, Pedronelo Fernandez, Patricio Romeo Gaor, and Aldrin Illustrisimo.

Sabangan and Libres were reported to have been only in charge of transporting portable communication equipment from Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija to the Davao International Airport.

“Hindi sila bababa dahil ang role nila (They wouldn’t go down because their role) is to go back. ’Yun lang ang ang role nila, mag-escort ng (That’s their only role, to escort) equipment," said Colonel Roy Deveraturda, PAF operations officer.

Meanwhile, Task Force Hercules is focused on the rescue and retrieval of possible survivors and of the aircraft itself. A fish company also recently lent its echo finder to the navy which can help detect entities up to 2,000 feet underwater.

According to the map that the task force plotted, their search would cover the area between Davao Del Sur and Samal, an island city of Davao Del Norte.

A left foot with a pilot’s shoe was found in Davao del Sur while a right foot was found in Samal Island. Tire debris and oil slick were also found, making the task force believe that the crash site might be between the two areas, officials have said.

Navy Captain Arnel Gonzales, in charge of the search operations, said that the debris found may have been carried by the high tide. - Kimberly Jane Tan, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/117191/Air-Force-Missing-C-130-plane-did-not-carry-explosives

Missing PAF C-130 plane’s location may have been found - report

08/30/2008 | 02:20 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The search and retrieval team on Saturday said that they may have found the location of the wreckage of the missing C-130 plane of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

According to GMA 7’s Flash Report, the plane’s suspected location was found after a navy ship, attached with an echo sounder, patroled the Davao Gulf on Friday.

However, the group is still not sure if what they found was really the missing plane.

The C-130 aircraft was said to have left the Davao International Airport at about 8:50 p.m. on Monday to pick up people from the Presidential Security Group (PSG) in Ilolilo City and then bring them back to Manila.

The plane carried two pilots, seven crewmen and two army soldiers. Officials reportedly lost contact with the aircraft 10 minutes after its take off and has since then been feared to have crashed.KJ Tan, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/117187/Missing-PAF-C-130-planes-location-may-have-been-found---report

US navy to help retrieve downed PAF plane

08/30/2008 | 04:21 AM

MANILA/DAVAO, Philippines — he United States’ Navy service ship USNS McDonnell is expected to arrive Saturday afternoon (Aug. 30) to help the Philippine military in the retrieval of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 cargo plane, which crashed on Monday and is now resting 600 meters below the Davao Gulf.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DoH) assured Davao residents that the risk to marine life and health from the downed plane is close to zero, this after the wreckage of the cargo plane, carrying at least 14,800 liters of A-1 jet fuel, started to leak oil.

Lt. Gen. Pedrito S. Cadungog, commanding general of the PAF, told reporters Friday that the USNS McDonnell, a service ship that is "equipped with side scanning radar," would probably be coming from Hawaii, where the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) is based.

Side scan radar is used for locating shipwrecks, downed aircraft, drums, tires, pipelines and other items in rivers, lakes, or ocean floors.

The USNS McDonnell will be reporting directly to Col. Isagani Silva, commander of the PAF’s Tactical Operations Group once it arrives.

A statement from the Air Force said the USPACOM move to send the McDonnell was in response to the Philippines’ request for assistance to recover the C-130. Earlier this week, Mr. Cadungog said even with the modern equipment that the divers used in their search, rescue and retrieval operations for the past few days, it still wasn’t enough to reach the bottom of the gulf where the wreck was believed to be located.

He said the depth of the area was about 600 to 800 feet, while divers are only capable of reaching a depth of 200 to 300 feet below sea level.

The wreckage is found between the waters of Barangay Bukana on the Davao shoreline and Samal Island. No health risks

Meanwhile, the health department in the Davao region has assured the public that the toxicity risk to Davao Gulf’s marine life and health due to the crash is close to zero.

Dr. Pauline Jean R. Ubial, regional director of the DoH-XI, said the large volume of water in the Davao Gulf would dissipate the effects of any oil spill before it could pose a danger to the health of the people and marine life.

In fact, she said, the government has not issued a fish ban in Davao City and the fishermen are allowed to continue to catch fish in the gulf. This came after the department had consulted with the University of the Philippines-National Toxicology Center and the National Epidemiology Center.

The Davao Gulf supplies about 22,000 metric tons of fish per year to the local market, data from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-XI (BFAR-XI) showed.

Margarita Moran-Floirendo, executive director of the Save the Davao Gulf Foundation, said that the Davao Gulf remains the second largest in terms of marine biodiversity in the country, with 11 marine mammal species. However, as a precautionary measure, the Health department has issued an advisory asking the public, among others, to: stay at least 25 to 50 meters away from the fuel spill site; not to light cigarettes, torches, or open fires on the shorelines within a 50-meter radius of the site; and stay upwind.

Interviewed by reporters, Councilor Leonardo R. Avila III of the committee on environment said any volatile liquid like high-octane gas would only be dangerous in a small body of water, which is not the case in Davao Gulf. He said the local government unit is coordinating with the Philippine Coastguard and the BFAR-XI to check their monitoring mechanisms to see if there are any adverse effects from the oil spill. Plane crash

The C-130 cargo ship got lost on Monday minutes after taking off from the Davao International Airport. It was supposed to go to Iloilo City to pick up members of the Presidential Security Group to be brought to Manila.

The cargo ship was reportedly carrying two pilots, seven crew members, and two unidentified Philippine Army personnel.

They were pilot Maj. Manuel A. Zambrano, co-pilot Captain Adrian B. de Dios, T/Sgt. Constantino Enrique R. Lobrigas (flight engineer), S/Sgt. John M. Areola (student flight engineer), S/Sgt. Gary T. Dinoso (crew chief), S/Sgt. Felix Pedro M. Patriarca (flight mechanic), S/Sgt. Petronilo F. Fernandez (load master), S/Sgt. Patricio R. Claur, Jr. (load master), S/Sgt. Aldrin A. Illustrisimo (student load master).

No survivors have been found. — Aizel Joyce A. Catipay and Joel B. Escovilla, BusinessWorld

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/117101/US-navy-to-help-retrieve-downed-PAF-plane

Authorities broaden C-130 search to cover Davao del Norte

08/29/2008 | 01:15 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Rescuers have now broadened their search area for the bodies of the crew and parts of the ill-fated plane to include waters off Davao del Norte, as search and retrieval operations continued on its fourth day.

In a report aired over QTV's Balitanghali, GMA News reporter Raffy Tima said as of Friday morning, authorities have found more body parts, shoes and parts of the aircraft as authorities abandoned hopes of anyone surviving the crash.

The report noted that aside from the Philippine Navy ships that circle the area, a Philippine Air Force chopper also hovers above the waters twice a day along with a Nomad plane from the Philippine Coast Guard in search for plane debris and the crewmen's remains.

Rescuers are also currently coordinating with the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) following a witness’ statement that a ship passed by the plane’s crash site shortly after the plane plummeted to the waters.

The exact site of the crash may be determined based on the route of the ship, said the rescue team’s commander, Navy Captain Arnel Gonzales.

“So ito ngayon yung vine-verify namin with Commodore Dabin, yung Coast Guard district commander. Makita sana kung anong barko yung time na yun na papasok o papalabas para at least pwede natin makuhanan ng information kasi itong channel na to, piloting waters so most likely manned yung ano niya, yung piloting house. So any incident na diyan sa, surrounding that area, maoobserbahan," said Gonzales.

A separate report by GMA News reporter Marisol Abduhraman said the Air Force has dismissed sabotage and inclement weather as the reasons for the plane crash, saying the weather was stable and security tight during the plane’s take off in the Davao International Airport .

Instead, the Air Force is now investigating possibilities of human error – not just on the crew’s part but also on the team that helped them take off – and material failure.

Authorities will closely inspect the recovered plane parts to determine if there was damage before the plane crashed, said the report.

The report added that the Air Force also confirmed Thursday that two Army soldiers were also on the plane aside from the nine Air Force troops earlier named.

Corporal Benjie Sabangan and Master Sergeant Remigio Libres reportedly got on the plane at Fort Magsaysay and was on it all the way to Manila .

The soldiers reportedly guarded portable communication equipment transferred to Davao .

“We are still in the process of info gathering, pieces we are gathering, wala pang talagang analysis on what we have gathered kasi bits and pieces pa lang," said Major General Jovito Gammad, head of the Air Force investigating team.

In a separate report, GMA News reporter Tek Ocampo said there was no indication that the plane’s fate would be tragic based on the transcripts of communications between the C-130 crew and the control tower at the Davao International Airport .

The plane took off at 8:54 pm Monday, with the crew’s last words to the people at the tower were “Good night, ma’am."

Four minutes later, however, there was no answer from the crew when the tower tried to call them twice. Another call at 8:59 p.m. was likewise unanswered, but “unintelligible sounds" could be heard, said the report.

The tower reportedly shifted to another frequency in its effort to get hold of the crew but there was still no response.

The ill-fated C-130 aircraft was supposed to pick up members of the Presidential Security Group in Iloilo but eventually lost contact with the command center minutes after it took off from the Davao City International Airport .

Authorities said the cargo plane may have crashed about 2.5 nautical miles southeast of Davao City and three nautical miles southwest of the Island Garden City of Samal. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/116912/Authorities-broaden-C-130-search-to-cover-Davao-del-Norte

Search for missing C-130, crewmen continues for 3rd day

08/28/2008 | 01:14 PM

MANILA , Philippines – Authorities continued the search and retrieval operations for the missing C-130 aircraft and its crewmembers for the third day, as investigators remain clueless on the cause of the plane crash.

QTV's Balitanghali reported that rescue divers continued their search and retrieval operations for the missing C-130 aircraft and its crewmen despite strong currents that are hampering their operations.

Rescuers used small naval boats with sonar underwater radars to detect the plane’s fragments and the victims’ body parts.

Earlier in the day, rescuers have abandoned hopes of finding survivors as efforts have refocused on recovering body parts of victims.

The report also said the task force overseeing the search and retrieval operations transferred its command center from Bucana village near the crash site to the headquarters of the Philippine Coast Guard at the Sta. Ana Wharf.

This is to ensure better security and a wider space to conduct an inventory of recovered human parts and plane debris, the report said.

Lack of search and rescue facilities also prompted the Air Force to ask from the United States more advanced sonar detectors to fast-track arrangements in acquisition of the plane.

Also, authorities are looking into reports that the aircraft had eleven passengers instead of nine.

The report said that the Air Transportation Office will verify the reports by recovering radio transmissions between the Davao International Airport and the C-130 plane before it crashed.

The C-130 Hercules cargo airplane crashed into the Davao Gulf on Monday evening. The ill-fated aircraft was supposed to pick up members of the Presidential Security Group in Iloilo but eventually lost contact with the command center minutes after it took off at the Davao City International Airport.

Authorities said the plane crash-landed about 2.5 nautical miles southeast of Davao City and three nautical miles southwest of the Island Garden City of Samal.

Authorities earlier identified the plane's pilot as Maj. Manuel A. Zambrano and his co-pilot as Capt. Adrian de Dios. The crew members were Technical Sergeant Lobregas Constantino, and Staff Sergeants John Ariola, Gerry Denioso, Felix Patraica, Pedronelo Fernandez, Patricio Romeo Gaor, and Aldrin Illustrisimo. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/116645/Search-for-missing-C-130-crewmen-continues-for-3rd-day

Lightning may have caused C-130 crash - PAF chief

08/27/2008 | 04:53 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is not dismissing the possibility that lightning could have caused the crash of a C-130 transport plane off Davao last Monday despite the fact that it was equipped with a lightning arrester.

“Although it has an arrester, we will investigate the degree of the lighting... because that is a possibility,” said PAF chief Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog, who flew to Mactan airbase in Lapu-Lapu City Wednesday aboard a commercial plane to personally attend to the grieving family of the pilots and crewmembers of the aircraft.

Cadungog said they will pursue the angle based on an eyewitness account that said lightning struck the area shortly before the burning aircraft was seen plummeting into the water.

“He (witness) said that a lightning struck and he saw the plane into flames before it crashed. All of that will be subjected to scientific expert evaluation by our investigation team,” Cadungog said.

He said other angles that investigators are considering are pilot factor and materiel failure.

The plane, acquired in 1983 through the United States financing program, had taken off from the Davao City airport and was on its way to Iloilo City to fetch personnel from the Presidential Security Group when it met the tragedy.

It was being piloted by Maj. Manuel Zambrano and Capt. Adrian de Dios and had seven crewmembers.

Asked if there was an indication that there was an explosion prior to the crash, the Air Force chief said, “None, none.”....

“Even the eyewitness did not describe it (aircraft) as exploding. What he said is that there was lightning,” he said. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/116438/Lightning-may-have-caused-C-130-crash---PAF-chief

Task force begins underwater search for missing C-130 crew

08/27/2008 | 09:16 AM

MANILA, Philippines - A task force searching for missing crew members of a C-130 cargo plane that crashed off Davao Gulf started an underwater search Wednesday morning using a specialized camera to look for traces of the victims.

Radio dzBB reported that as of 9 a.m., members of Task Force C-130 lowered an underwater closed-circuit camera to look for traces of the crew, but have so far found nothing positive.

The task force centered its operations on Davao Gulf, where the C-130 was believed to have crashed shortly after takeoff Monday night.

Earlier in the day, Coast Guard rescuers prepared to dive into the waters of Davao Gulf and received last-minute instructions before starting the search operations.

Listed as passengers of the ill-fated C-130 plane were:

• Maj.Manuel Sambrano, the plane’s pilot;
• Capt. Adrian de Dios, co-pilot;
• Flight Technical Sergeant Constantino Lobregas;
• Staff Sergeant Petronilo Fernandez,
• Staff Sergeant John Arriola;
• Staff Sergeant Gerry Delioso;
• Staff Sergeant Felix Pedro Patriarga;
• Staff Sergeant Patricio Claur Jr; and
• Staff Sergeant Aldrin Ilustrisimo.

Navy Capt. Rosauro Gonzales, who is in charge of the ongoing search for the ill-fated aircraft, had earlier said that the wreck was traced about 2.5 nautical miles southwest of Samal Island and is about 600 feet under water. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/116346/Task-force-begins-underwater-search-for-missing-C-130-crew

PAF grounds remaining C-130 planes for scrutiny

08/27/2008 | 08:37 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Following the crash of a C-130 cargo plane off Davao Monday night, the Philippine Air Force has grounded the rest of its C-130 fleet pending a comprehensive inspection.

PAF commanding general Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog said Wednesday he expects the inspection of the fleet, which presently has only one working plane, to be finished within the day (Wednesday).

"(The grounding will be in effect) until such time we have conducted a comprehensive inspection. Probably today matatapos ang inspection (The inspection will probably be completed today)," Cadungog said in an interview on dzXL radio.

He also said the loss of the C-130 plane will have a big effect on PAF operations, especially in the ferrying of troops, cargo and relief goods.

Cadungog said he is "hoping" the grounding of the C-130 fleet will be brief.

"When it comes to emergencies we will immediately perform the mission (but) I'm hoping sandali lang pag-ground (I'm hoping the grounding will be for a short time)," he said.

On the other hand, he said the loss of the C-130 plane will have little, if any effect, on ongoing operations against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao.

Earlier, PAF spokesman Maj. Gerry Zamudio admitted the loss of the C-130 cargo plane will leave the PF) with only three working cargo planes at most.

In an interview on dzBB radio, Zamudio said said two more C-130 planes are due for repair (and be operational) "in a few weeks and (be operational) in months."

But he said that with the missing C-130 plane, the government will only have three working C-130 planes at most. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/116333/PAF-grounds-remaining-C-130-planes-for-scrutiny

Davao residents report seeing ‘something big’ crash into sea

08/26/2008 | 10:37 AM

MANILA , Philippines – In the heels of a military C-130 plane gone missing, two residents of a coastal village in Davao City on Tuesday reported seeing “a huge object" crash into the Davao Gulf but did not confirm it was an aircraft.

In an interview with dzBB, Robert Olan-Olan, village chairman of Brgy. Bucana, said that one resident and one fisherman claimed to have seen the crash incident on Monday night.

“So far, dalawang tao ang nag-confirm ngayon. Yung isa, ilang meters nandoon siya kung saan bumagsak, at saka yung isang mangingisda na taga rito sa amin. Sabi na may nakita doon sa laot (So far, two have already reported the information. One of them claimed being only meters away from the crash site, while a fisherman claimed seeing something in the deep sea)," Olan-Olan said.

"Di na-recognize ng tao dahil umuulan (Many could not recognize it because it was raining)," he added.

As of posting time, search-and-rescue choppers from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) are verifying the information from the witnesses by taking them to the reported crash site.

In the interview, Olan-Olan said based on the residents' reports, debris were found on the surface of the Davao Gulf. “Bumagsak sa hulihan ng isda, sa dinadaanan ng barko ... Malalim, di namin makita kung may lumulutang, wala kaming makita (The plane supposedly fell into the water, but it was too deep. We could not see if anything was floating)," he said.

Olan-Olan said local police rushed to the area to check the reported sighting. But he said many residents could not be sure if it was the plane that crashed because it was raining Monday night.

He added that more authorities arrived in the area to verify the claims that the plane crashed
there.

“Andito ang Philippine National Police City director namin and yung station commander at saka yung mga Air Force, nandito lahat (The city police director is here, the station commander and those from the Air Force. They are all here)," Olan-Olan said.

He added that local officials and policemen are also helping out in the Air Force’s rescue operations. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/116095/Davao-residents-report-seeing-something-big-crash-into-sea