Army general on board ill-fated C-130 hours before crash recalls 'close call'

For Major General Romeo Brawner Jr., he was given a second chance in life. Not only him but his family as well.

Brawner and his family were on board the C-130 plane that crashed in Patikul, Sulu, on July 4, hours after dropping them off in Cagayan de Oro where he would assume a new military assignment.

"Para sa akin panibagong buhay ito [For me this is a new chance in life]. It was a close call," Brawner told Super Radyo dzBB on Wednesday.

Fifty soldiers and three civilians perished in the accident that is currently the subject of a full military investigation. Over 40 others were hurt, many of them in critical condition.

Brawner said he learned of the tragedy about three hours after he and his family were dropped off at Lumbia Airfield in Cagayan de Oro where he would serve as new commander of the Army's 4th Infantry Divsion.

"Nung narinig namin [yung balita] tumayo balahibo ko [When we heard the news, it terrified me]," he said.

Brawner said he could not help but think what could've happened if they went to Sulu first before Cagayan de Oro, or if the accident happened in Cagayan de Oro instead of Sulu.

"I'm very thankful that the Lord spared me, but at the same time ako ay nalulungkot sa nangyari [I am sad for what happened]," he said.

Brawner said he is hoping that the accident would inspire his fellow soldiers to do better in performing their duties

"While we are sad for our comrades, dapat magsilbi itong inspirasyon para magtrabaho tayo nang maige at magserbisyo sa ating bayan," he said.

(While we are sad for our comrades, this should serve as inpiration to us to better serve our country.)

The C-130, which was bringing troops to Sulu, crashed before noon on Sunday after missing the runway in Barangay Bangkal, Patikul, Sulu.

The black box or flight data recorder has been retrieved and will be brought to the United States as part of the investigation, according to General Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. —KBK, GMA News