DFA: 6 OFWs dead in Afghanistan plane crash

(Updated 7:47 p.m.) The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday confirmed six Filipinos died on board a cargo plane that slammed into a mountain east of the Afghan capital Kabul. "It is with sadness that we received a confirmation from the Philippine Embassy in Islamabad that indeed six Filipinos perished from a plane crash recently in Afghanistan," DFA spokesman Ed Malaya told GMANews.TV. Malaya said they received the report from the employer of the deceased overseas Filipino workers (OFW), some of whom were working as crew members of the cargo plane. "What we have received is that they are passengers although we also read that they are crew members of the plane," he said. A separate release on the DFA website said it also received confirmation of the deaths from PAE Justice Support, a provider of logistical support and security services at the US-controlled Bagram Air Base. The DFA identified the Filipino fatalities as pilot Henry Bulos, co-pilot Rene Badilla, and crew members Nilo Medina and Ibelo Valbuena. Two others have incomplete names as of posting time: a Mr. Castillo (mechanic) and a Mr. Padora (avionics). He added that their remains are currently being retrieved. "They will be repatriated in due course... that is being done by the embassy in coordination with their employers as well as our DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA)," he said. The DFA release meanwhile noted that the OUMWA has directed the Embassy to assist and coordinate with employers for the repatriation of the Filipinos’ remains and entitlement to benefits. The cargo plane, owned by Trans Afrique of Ghana and carrying NATO supplies, went down east of Kabul shortly after taking off Tuesday evening from Bagram Air Field, the main US military base in Afghanistan. With the six Filipinos were an Indian and a Kenyan, both of whom also perished in the crash. He added that their remains are currently being retrieved. "They will be repatriated in due course... that is being done by the embassy in coordination with their employers as well as our DFA Overseas Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) office," he said. The plane, which was carrying NATO supplies, went down east of Kabul shortly after taking off on Tuesday evening from Bagram Air Field, the main US military base in Afghanistan. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known but weather conditions were clear at the time. The DFA said a joint Afghan-international security force is now doing a search and retrieval operation at the crash stie. — With Jerrie Abella/VVP/VS, GMANews.TV