Military's air assets still enough despite C-130 tragedy –PAF spox

Philippine Air Force spokesman Col. Maynard Mariano assured the public on Sunday that the Armed Forces of the Philippines has enough air assets to continue its service despite the C-130 aircraft's tragedy in Sulu on July 4.

The PAF's C-130 plane left Cagayan de Oro City on Sunday to bring troops to Sulu when it overshot the runway and crashed in the municipality of Patikul. Forty-nine troops and three civilians on the ground were killed, while 47 soldiers were injured.

The injured soldiers were admitted to various hospitals in Sulu and Zamboanga City.

Likewise, Mariano said that the families of the three civilians on the ground who died in the accident were given financial assistance.

Air assets

Despite the loss of the C-130, AFP's air assets are still enough, Mariano said.

"Sa ngayon sa lahat po ng nagtatanong sino ang pupuno ng serbisyo ng C-130, nandyan pa ang C-295,  NC-212i na ginagamit po natin. Ito nagpupuno ng trabaho ngayon," Mariano said, adding that the AFP also has other aircraft and helicopters. 

(To those asking, we still have the C-295 and NC212i that we are using to take over C-130 operations after the crash.)

Also, the PAF spokesman said the military's transport of vaccines and medical items to far-flung provinces will still continue.

He likewise assured the public that PAF personnel will still pursue their duties despite the fatal aircraft crash.

"Hindi kami puwede mag-low morale. 'Yung ito po ay araw-araw nagre-remind sa kasundaluhan, let us push forward because the people need us. May mas malaking responsibilidad sa mamamayan. Tuloy pa po ang operasyon ng Air Force," he added.

(We cannot afford to have low morale. This is what we are reminding our soldiers daily: Let us push forward because the people need us. There is a bigger responsibility to our countrymen. The operations of the Air Force continues.

"Akala ng iba hindi na tayo lumilipad dahil sa insidente. Tuloy ang trabaho ng Air Force para maserbisyo ang mamamayan," Mariano further said.

(Some people think we do not fly anymore after the incident. The job of the Air Force continues to serve our countrymen.)

Identified fatalities

Meanwhile, the number of identified fatalities among military personnel remained at 20, Mariano clarified.

In an earlier radio interview, he said 29 soldiers who perished in the crash were identified.

"20 lang pa po ang na identify out of the 49 (Only 20 were identified out of the 49)," he told GMA News Online.

The bodies of 29 other fallen soldiers are undergoing examination for identification.

According to Mariano in another interview on Saturday, the flight recordings of the ill-fated C-130 plane will be analyzed and known soon. The flight data recorder or black box of the plane has been sent to the US for analysis. —KG/LBG, GMA News