Death of wounded soldier increases Sulu plane crash fatality to 53

The death toll in the Philippine air force plane crash climbed to 53 after another injured soldier recently died, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Cirilito Sobejana said Tuesday.

Of the 53, 50 are military personnel and three are civilians.

In a message to reporters, Sobejana said the latest fatality also decreased injured victims to 46.

Philippine military chief said the soldier died on Monday night while being treated at West Metro Medical Center in Zamboanga City.

"Late last night binawian siya ng buhay at ang sanhi po nito ay 'yung chemical burns na natamo niya sa kanyang mukha... baka naka-inhale ng smoke kaya yun ang nagagravate ng kanyang medical condition," said Sobejana.

(He died last night due to chemical burns in his face. Maybe he inhaled the smoke which aggravated his medical condition.)

Over the weekend, C-130 military aircraft took off from Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City and was about to land in Jolo port in Sulu when it crashed before noon.

Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana had ordered a full blown investigation into the incident.

President Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile, ordered the Philippine military to ensure that air assets must be in good shape to avoid accidents in the future.—LDF, GMA News