Stop speculations on Bell 412 helicopter crash - Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang appealed to end speculations about what happened in the crash of the presidential helicopter in Ifugao province last week, which resulted in the death of eight of President Arroyo’s aides.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, in an interview over dzRB, was noticeably piqued by suggestions coming from Sen. Rodolfo Biazon and his son Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon that a deeper investigation should be conducted on the crash in spite of the submission by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) of its official report on the incident.

The PAF has determined that bad weather led to the crash since the Bell 412 helicopter was in good condition.

“It’s unfortunate for these two very distinguished gentlemen to have allowed themselves to be used as a tool for dignifying these text rumors that were spread earlier especially because Senator Biazon has full access to military reports and sources,” Remonde said.

Among the rumors that circulated earlier was that the President’s son and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo used the ill-fated chopper to get to Baguio City from Manila and that he arrived late.

Biazon wanted to find out who ordered the chopper to fly out even at a late hour and with the weather expected to go bad on that day.

Remonde emphasized that all of the standard operating procedures for flights involving the presidential choppers, as well as the movement of the President’s advance team, were followed.

“It’s not a question of who ordered. There was no need for any directives on what should be done because they all knew what was supposed to be done because they have established standard operating procedures,” he said.

As a former head of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), Remonde said that it was part of the job of the special operations group of the President to go a day ahead of Mrs. Arroyo to her engagement area to conduct ocular inspection.

“That’s part of their mission and no one has to order them to do that because that is their job,” he said.

As to the question raised about the time of departure and the bad weather, the press secretary noted that there was clear weather when the chopper left the Loakan airport at around 4 p.m. last Tuesday and the same was true in Banawe where they were headed.

“That is confirmed by people on both grounds,” Remonde said.

He also reminded the Biazons about the notice to airmen or NOTAM that provides warnings or information for pilots on what to do in certain areas.

“There’s no such thing as a NOTAM to airmen that they cannot fly out of Baguio at a certain time,” Remonde said.

“That’s a matter of habit of commercial aviation not to fly after a certain time. He (Biazon) should know that as former AFP chief of staff. The Air Force pilots, unlike commercial pilots, can fly whenever pilots or commanders allow them or see them fit to fly. There was no NOTAM to airmen in Loakan that they could not fly out,” he added.

Remonde denounced the pronouncements of the Biazons, saying it is adding insult to injury now that the President and everyone in Malacañang are still grieving over the deaths of the eight aides.

Killed in the crash were Press Undersecretary Jose Capadocia Jr.; Undersecretary Marilou Frostrom of the PMS; assistant director Perlita Bandayanon of the PMS, senior military aide Brig. Gen. Carlos Clet, PAF pilots Maj. Ronaldo Sacatani and Capt. Alvin Alegata, Clet’s aide Navy Police Officer 3 Demilyn Reyno and Staff Sergeant Roe Gem Perez.