Air Force choppers to go on carrying relief goods despite crash

CEBU, Philippines - A top official of the Philippine Air Force  yesterday assured that transportation of relief goods to different parts of Leyte and Samar provinces will continue despite the incident where one of their helicopters crashed in a mountain barangay of La Paz town in Leyte.

Major General Romeo Poquiz, commanding general of the PAF Second Air Base Division at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City, told reporters that what happened would not affect their continuing transportation of relief goods.

He said investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the crash, he saw no need to discontinue the use of the other PAF helicopters in transporting relief goods to victims of typhoon Yolanda in affected Visayas provinces, especially Samar and Leyte.

He assured the public that despite the mishap, all PAF helicopters are safe to use.

Aside from relief goods, PAF helicopters are also utilized in airlifting typhoon victims from Tacloban City to Manila and Cebu.

Those who want to visit their relatives in Tacloban City who were affected by the typhoon are also accommodated by the PAF helicopters.

“I assure the public that all helicopters used in transporting relief goods are safe and there is no need to worry,” said Poquiz.

PAF is still looking into why the helicopter crashed, which it initially said could be  due to factors like the “environment, mechanical problem, and human error.”

The chopper left Tacloban Friday afternoon and was scheduled to bring relief goods to one barangay in the area when it went down.

Eight passengers, including five soldiers and two social welfare personnel, suffered injuries but all are now in stable condition.

The pilot, Capt. Eddie As-il, said the chopper encountered problems just as it was about to land near a school. (FREEMAN)