Quezon gov, 5 others die in Lucena chopper crash

(Update 5 - 11:46 p.m.) Incumbent Quezon governor Rafael Nantes and five other people died when a private helicopter crashed on Monday afternoon in a residential area in the provincial capital city of Lucena. Colonel Generoso Bolina, spokesperson of the military's Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), confirmed that Nantes was among the four passengers that perished in the ill-fated chopper. "There are four fatalities. Their bodies are charred. The helicopter exploded," Bolina said in Filipino in a phone interview with GMANews.TV. Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) director general Alfonso Cusi said the chopper, a four-seater Robinson R-44, crashed shortly after taking off from the Quezon National High School in Lucena City where Nantes attended a flag ceremony. He said the aircraft was bound for Manila The two other fatalities were civilians who died when the crash caused two houses to burn, according to a military report. "On board was Governor Nantes. He died on the spot with three others. Two houses got burned and two civilians inside the houses died," the report, sent via text message, read. Bolina said the civilian chopper exploded around 3:15 p.m. and crashed in Hael Subdivision in Barangay Iyam in Lucena City. A report on radio dzBB said the fatalities were burned beyond recognition. The three other fatalities in the chopper were identified as Captain Nestor Sanchez, the pilot; and Nantes' security escorts P03 Randy Roperez and Msgt. Alfredo Dominguez. Those who were killed in the houses that burned have yet to be identified. Nantes, who is treasurer of the Liberal Party, ran for reelection in the May 10 elections, but GMA Network's partial and unofficial tally as of Monday afternoon showed that he was trailing David Suarez. LP chairman and Senator-elect Franklin Drilon, who said he was "saddened and shocked" by the incident, extended the party's condolences to Nantes's family and friends. "Like his beloved province of Quezon, the LP has become richer by the services Raffy had given through the years. His personal mission of providing exemplary service to the Filipino people was inspirational," Drilon said in a statement. - with Jam Sisante/KBK/HS, GMANews.TV