Remains of Filipino airman in Balikatan mishap brought to Clark

The remains of the Filipino soldier who was killed on Thursday in a skydiving incident during the Philippine-US joint military exercises has been brought to the Armed Forces of the Philippines chapel in Clark, Pampanga.

Airman 2nd Class Jober Domansin, 27, of the Philippine Air Force was brought to the chapel from Subic, where the airman died after a gust of wind pushed him and his parachute to the sea during an aerial exercise between US and Filipino troops.

Gerardo, Domansin's father, learned of his death through the young man's girlfriend. Father and son last spoke to each other months ago in December.

"Hindi ok, hindi ok, nararamdaman ko.... Yung picture n'ya na lang ang titingnan ko," Gerardo said.

Domansin was dragged to the sea near the Subic airport after a pocket of wind caught his parachute during the proficiency parachute jump exercise held at 3:45 p.m. on Thursday.

United States Air Force personnel managed to retrieve Domansin from the 30-foot-deep area where he landed around 5 p.m.

Rescuers tried to revive Domansin at the Unihealth-Baypoint Hospital and Medical Center in Olongapo City but confirmed his death at 5:25 p.m.

Capt. Celeste Frank Sayson, public affairs officer of the 2016 Balikatan exercises, said the airman was the ninth of the 20 Filipino airmen who jumped from a C130 plane that afternoon.

Domansin is a member of the 710th Special Operations Wing of the Philippine Air Force.

This year's Balikatan exercises is scheduled between April 4 and 15 and aims to strengthen the humanitarian and maritime security procedures of both Filipino and US forces.

The exercises, participated in by 8,000 troops, will later simulate the retaking of an oil-and-gas platform and practice an amphibious landing on a Philippine beach. —NB, GMA News