PAF: Recovered debris were from missing C-130

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday afternoon said debris found floating off the coast of Davao City came from the missing C-130 aircraft, confirming fears that the plane crashed in the area. The confirmation followed reports that a body believed to be that of a crew member of the ill-fated aircraft was recovered off Davao City. GMA’s Flash Report said the confirmation was relayed to the Philippine Air Force by Col. Isagani Silva, ground commander of the team conducting search, rescue, and retrieval operations off the city’s coast. However, authorities have yet to determine the cause of the plane crash. In a text message sent to reporters, Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Pedro Cadungog also confirmed that debris recovered in Lapu-Lapu village were from the missing aircraft. Cadungog said the recovered items include plane parts including one of its wheels. Also recovered was the military ID of one of the aircraft's crew members, Staff Sergeant Petronilo Fernandez. Aside from Fernandez, those on board the plane at the time of the accident were: • Major Manuel Sambrano, the aircraft's pilot; • Captain Adrian de Dios, co-pilot; • Flight Technical Sergeant Constantino Lobregas; • Staff Sergeant John Arriola; • Staff Sergeant Gerry Delioso; • Staff Sergeant Felix Pedro Patriarga; • Staff Sergeant Patricio Claur Jr; and • Staff Sergeant Aldrin Ilustrisimo. Around noon Tuesday, rescuers recovered a body believed to be that of a crew member of the missing Philippine Air Force C-130 aircraft off Davao City, bolstering fears that the plane which was reported missing since Monday night may have crashed into sea. Citing initial military reports, Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman Maj. Armand Rico confirmed the retrieval of a body, even as he said that operations continue in the search for crew members of the missing aircraft. Robert Olan-Olan, chairman of Brgy. Bucana in Davao City, also said residents of the barangay and the nearby village of Agdao found plane tires and body parts off Davao City around noon Tuesday. "Hindi buong body, parts of the body (These are not intact bodies but body parts)," Olan-Olan said in an interview on dzBB radio. Earlier reports indicated that the C-130 aircraft left Davao International Airport about 8:50 p.m. Monday to pick up personnel from the Presidential Security Group (PSG) in Ilolilo City and bring them back to Manila. The plane, however, lost contact with ground personnel about 10 minutes after take off, leading authorities to declare the aircraft missing. Officials later said that the plane likely crashed and that search and rescue efforts were ordered within a 20-mile radius of Davao City where the aircraft was feared to have crashed. - GMANews.TV