Paolo Duterte, Eric Yap to give P5M for Sulu C-130 crash victims

Two lawmakers will provide financial assistance to the families of the victims of the deadly C-130 plane crash in Sulu over the weekend. 

Davao City Representative Paolo Duterte and ACT-CIS party-list lawmaker Eric Yap would turn over P5 million as financial aid to the families of those who died and to the wounded victims of the tragic incident. 

The donation will be turned over to the Armed Forces headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo. High-ranking military officials are expected to distribute the assistance to the families of the deceased and injured soldiers and civilians. 

"Maliit lang na halaga ito kumpara sa sakripisyo na kanilang ginawa at sa serbisyo nila para sa bansa. Immediately after the incident was reported in the news, tumawag agad si Cong. Paolo Duterte para planuhin ito," Yap said. 

(This is a small amount compared to the sacrifices and the service of soldiers to the country. After the incident was reported, Congressman Paolo Duterte immediately called to plan this initiative.)

"Tumawag din ang ilang mga kaibigan namin mula sa business sector na gusto din makipag-bayanihan kahit sa maliit na paraan," he added. 

(Our friends from the business sector also called to provide assistance.) 

Duterte, for his part, said no amount of money can actually compensate for the sacrifices of the government troops. 

"We honor the lives of our State defenders that we lost in this tragedy," Duterte said. 

"I am confident that the national government will provide whatever support that the victims and their families may need, and to ensure that no similar incident will occur in the future," he added. 

Both lawmakers also expressed sympathies to the families of the fatalities. 

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday announced he will give money out of his personal funds to the loved ones of the soldiers and civilians who died in the crash. The families of those who were killed in the tragedy will receive P50,000 while those who were injured will receive P20,000, he said.

The C-130, which came from Cagayan de Oro City and was bringing troops to Sulu, crashed before noon on Sunday after missing the runway in Barangay Bangkal in Patikul.

A total of 50 soldiers and three civilians died in the incident. Armed Forces chief General Cirilito Sobejana said 16 of the 50 soldiers killed have already been identified.

Meanwhile, 46 servicemen and four civilians were injured.

The aircraft's black box will be sent to the US as part of the investigation. —KG, GMA News