PRRD condoles with families of soldiers killed in chopper crash

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night honored the bravery of the soldiers who died in a helicopter crash in Bukidnon over the weekend and promised not to abandon their families.

In a pre-recorded speech, Duterte said he wanted to personally go to Bukidnon to pay his respects but learned that the soldiers’ remains had already been brought to their families.

“I would have wanted to go there. I thought yesterday nasa isang kampo lang. Eh iyon pala napadala na sa mga — ‘yung labi nila sa mga pamilya nila (they are still in the camp. But then their remains were already brought home to their families). So, I decided to forgo the trip,” he said.

The president was saddened by the troops’ death, but recognized them for their heroism and vowed to posthumously confer on them the Order of Lapu-Lapu, a national order of merit given to officials and personnel of the government and private individuals in recognition of invaluable or extraordinary service.

“Let me express my deepest condolences sa mga asawa ninyo. And I share your grief. Alam ko kung gaano na lang ganoon ang sakripisyo ng sundalo para sa bayan nila. They died a hero — heroes. He died a hero, they died heroes. And we are giving them the one of the highest awards sa Presidente is the Order of Lapu-Lapu,” he said.

Before ending his meeting with some Cabinet members, Duterte offered a moment of silence for the fallen troops.

“To their families, I said, I share my grief again. Ikinalulungkot ko ho ang nangyari pero (I’m sad about what happened)… Let’s just pray to God that… Maybe I can have a one-minute silence from everybody and let us pray for those who died in that helicopter crash. At (And) may they rest in peace,” he said.

Duterte also vowed not to abandon the soldiers’ bereaved families.

“Sa pamilya (To their families), my message is — my message is hindi ko kayo pababayaan (I will not abandon you). We have a very good — something that would crop up like this, you will not be abandoned. Alalayan ko kayo (I will guide you),” he said.

A UH-IH “Huey” combat utility helicopter crashed in Impasug-ong, Bukidnon last Saturday afternoon, killing all seven people on board. Among those killed were five military personnel and two militiamen.

Killed in the crash were Lt. Col. Arnie Arroyo, pilot; 2nd Lt. Mark Anthony Caabay, co-pilot; Sgt. Mervin Bersabe; Airman 1st Class Stephen Agarrado; Sgt. Julius Salvado; Jerry Ayocdo; and Jhamel Sugalang.

Arroyo, Caabay, Bersabe and Agarrado are from the PAF while Salvado is from the Philippine Army, and Ayocdo and Sugalang are members of the Army’s auxiliary force Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit.

Philippine Air Force spokesperson Lt. Col. Aristides Galang earlier said it is still too early to presume that the helicopter crash last Jan. 16 was due to engine failure or malfunction.

Galang made the statement following reports pointing to engine failure as the cause of the mishap.