By KEITH BACONGCO * AARON RECUENCO
DAVAO CITY – Seven military personnel were killed when a Philippine Air Force (PAF) helicopter on a re-supply mission crashed in the mountainous village of Sitio Nahigit, Barangay Bulonay, Imapsug-ong, Bukidnon Saturday.
Police Senior Master Sgt. Teddy Jones Saliot of the Impasug-ong Police Station said that they received a radio call that a helicopter went down in Barangay Bulonay at around 2 p.m.
Quoting initial reports, police said the helicopter was seen going on a nose dive, hitting the ground at a high-rate of speed. The helicopter was totally wrecked, according to Saliot.
The two pilots, two crew members, and three Army passengers were reportedly killed, including a lieutenant colonel, who was the pilot in-command.
The others who died were a second lieutenant, the co-pilot; a PAF staff sergeant and a an Airman First Class, the crew members; and an Army sergeant, a militiaman, and another personnel from the Eighth Infantry Battalion.
The names of those who perished in the crash were not immediately available.
Saliot said Impasug-ong police chief Police Capt. Richlie Murallon was already at the crash site, assisting the military in retrieval operations.
He added that the UH-1H helicopter was on a resupply mission for the Army’s 403rd Brigade when it went down.
“As of now, that’s our initial information because our colleagues have not yet sent us an update since there’s no mobile phone signal in the crash site,” Saliot said.
Saliot said Barangay Bulonay was located at least three hours from the town proper of Impasug-ong but it could be reached from Malaybalay City.
