Twelve persons, including House Deputy Minority Leader and COOP-NATCCO party-list Rep. Anthony Bravo, were injured when the Philippine Air Force Sokol helicopter with tail No. 923 helicopter they were riding in crash landed inside Camp Ernesto Ravina Air Base, Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac Thursday.
A military report disclosed that the accident took place at about 1:48 p.m.
The aircraft took off at the Headquarters, Training, and Doctrine Command at 1:35 p.m. to ferry participants in the on-going AFP Legislative Stakeholder Engagement activity.
Eight civilian passengers, two pilots, and two crew members were on board when the incident happened.
Armed Forces of the Philippines-Northern Luzom Command chief Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat said the pilot was attempting to land the chopper when it crash landed.
Salamat said the seven other passengers of the helicopter are staff members of the House of Representatives and Senate, including former House Secretary General Atty. Cesar Strait Pareja.
“The survivors of Sokol 923 are all accounted for except for the pilot in command and one crew who were brought to Clark,” Salamat said.
“The remaining patients were brought to Training and Doctrine Medical Dispensary for initial treatment. They are all in stable condition and were further transferred to Camp Aquino Station Hospital in Tarlac City to undergo some other test like X-ray for minor injury,” he added.
Sen. Ralph G. Recto was among the participants and was supposed to ride the ill-fated helicopter. He was unhurt as he boarded a separate chopper.
PAF is presently conducting an investigation to determine what caused the air mishap. (Francis T. Wakefield)
