Senators call for probe as they condole with families of C-130 crash victims

As they grieve for the victims of Sunday’s tragic C-130 crash in Sulu and their families, some senators have called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

Senator Grace Poe said authorities should extend all the necessary assistance to the victims of the crash as well as to their families.

“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 in a statement.

“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.”

Senator Risa Hontiveros shared Poe’s sentiment, saying the government must ensure that all benefits would be released to the victim’s families without delay.

“It is my hope that a closer investigation of this matter will ensure the protection of our brave men and women in uniform in their future deployments,” Hontiveros said.

“Considering this is the second plane crash in two weeks, is a disservice to our armed services if we leave them vulnerable in battle,” she added.

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said government troops deserve the best equipment and hardware as they risk their own lives when performing their duties.

“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,” the senator said.

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

For his part, Senator Panfilo Lacson said at this point, it would be better to pray first for the souls of the victims and for the recovery of the survivors.

“Before the Senate even thinks of exercising oversight on the AFP 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 passengers,” he said.

Senator Imee Marcos also mourned the loss of lives following this tragic incident.

“The fate that befell our young soldiers in the C-130 plane crash in Sulu is truly heart-rending and leaves a huge void in our collective consciousness as a nation. They were supposed to be the future of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, but true to their calling, they gave their lives in the line of duty and service to our country,” Marcos said.

She further said the purchase of “flying coffins” must stop.

Meanwhile, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, said he would wait for the result of the investigation before blaming anyone on the incident.

“It is about time that we in the 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, a former police official, said.

The Philippine military is already investigating the incident that claimed the lives of 50 people -- 47 soldiers and three civilians.

Authorities said some of the victims of the crash were new Philippine Army privates.

The said air asset, with tail number 5125, took off from Lumbia Airport in Cagayan De Oro City and was about to land in Jolo port in Sulu when it crashed at 11:30 a.m.

Armed Forces spokesman Major General Edgard Arevalo said the remaining C-130 planes of the military were grounded pending probe on Sunday's deadly incident. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News