4 killed in Basilan chopper crash

Four individuals were killed after a rescue helicopter of the Philippine Air Force crashed in Lantawan, Basilan on Wednesday.

This was confirmed by Police Lieutenant Richelle Perez, chief of the Lantawan Municipal Police Station. He said the helicopter crashed in a rubber plantation in the area.

"Bago lumakas ang ulan, may pumutok daw sa taas. Pumutok bago bumagsak, may explosion pa daw doon sa itaas..." Perez told GMA News Online.

He said an investigation is still ongoing as regards the cause of the incident.

Members of the Isabela City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office were among the first  to arrive in the area.

According to Major Al-Nasser Abdurakman, spokesman of the Edwin Andrews Air Base, the victims were all Air Force personnel. He said their identities could not be disclosed yet.

“Mayroon po tayong two pilots and two crew,” Abdurakman said in a phone interview.

He said the rescue helicopter was from Zamboanga going to Jolo, Sulu.

“Ang mission po ng aircraft is to pick-up ‘yung one of the victims ng bombing, recent bombings na nangyari sa Jolo. Medical evacuation po,” Abdurakman said.

He said there is still no concrete information yet as to the cause of the accident.

“Until such time na matapos po ang investigation, saka natin malalaman ‘yung cause of accident,” Abdurakman said. — AOL/RSJ, GMA News