INQUIRER Global Nation

The chances of finding any survivors in last Tuesday’s C-130 plane crash in Davao Gulf are getting remote, top Air Force officials admitted yesterday.

The third day of a multi-agency search for survivors of the C-130 plane crash had yet to yield any sign of survivors.

In yesterday’s press conference in Manila, Philippine Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog admitted that the likelihood of finding any survivors was remote.

“How can that be when the aircraft smashed into the sea... It would have hit the water like a tomato being thrown into a wall," Cadungog said.

Body parts, plane debris, combat boots, identification cards, navigational documents and other bits believed to have come from the plane have been recovered on the shores of Davao's Agdao district since Tuesday.

Hampering the operation to reach the ill-fated C-130 in the depths of the Davao Gulf is the lack of deep-probe equipment.

The PAF has sought the help of the US military's Hawaii-based Pacific Command to lend advanced sonar equipment capable of reaching the seabed 600 feet deep to locate the plane.

Divers sent to search the crash site between Samal Island and the Sta. Ana wharf in Davao City on Wednesday only got as deep as 20 feet and at this depth encountered zero visibility, Cadungog said.

11, not nine

The investigation team also received reports from divers that the fuselage-like silhouette seen in the deep might be slipping deeper because of the strong current.

"We were told that the seabed was muddy and the current was strong, so the part of the plane below is being pushed by the current," said Deveraturda.

The military also confirmed yesterday that there were 11 people aboard the doomed C-130 plane, contrary to earlier reports that it was only carrying seven crew members and two pilots.

Maj. Armand Rico, spokesperson of the military's Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) based here, said the two other persons aboard the plane were members of the Army's Scout Ranger.

Rico said they have to notify the families of the soldiers first before they can confirm their identities.

He did not give any details why the two soldiers were on the plane.

The C-130, which ferried Scout Ranger soldiers here from Nueva Ecija, was on its way to Iloilo City to pickup members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) returning to Manila when it crashed in the Davao Gulf.

Functional

The crash site was approximately 2.5 kilometers from barangay Bucana in Davao City.

Search teams composed of volunteers, military and Coast Guard elements, have retrieved metal fragments, human body parts, tattered fabric and documents from the plane.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Air Force’s only remaining functional C-130 plane will resume transporting troops to Mindanao following inspection at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base yesterday.

1st Lt. Ramil Daet, information officer at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base (MBEAB), said the plane was scheduled for inspection even before the crash occurred.

Even with the crash, Daet said no aircraft will be grounded so long as they are operational due to ongoing operations in Mindanao.

He said aircraft inspections are conducted as part of maintenance at least after every 25 hours.

Assistance

Financial assistance, salary benefits and insurance will be given by the local and national government for the families of the nine missing crew members.

Personnel of the 220th Airlift Wing accompanied the wives of the crew to the administrative office yesterday, where they were asked for their profiles by social welfare assistant Ma. Luzely Rufo of the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office.

Rufo said the Cebu provincial government will release P10,000 in financial assistance to each family at the Capitol grounds next Monday morning.

She said Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia will personally hand over the cash aid to the families.

Rufo added that the debriefing and psychological support are being handled by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) and the PAF Force psychiatrists.

The PAF said the Lapu-Lapu city government asked them to furnish the names of the crew so they can also give financial assistance. /Correspondent Carine Asutilla with Inquirer reports