8 in chopper crash in stable condition

ROSALES, Pangasinan — All eight passengers of the UH-1H helicopter which crashed at the Carmen airstrip here the other day are now in stable condition.

The injured group was the advance party of President Arroyo who, along with First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and their son, Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo, heard Mass at the Our Lady of Rosales grotto here Thursday afternoon.

Chief Inspector Rogelio Danoli, Rosales police chief, told The STAR that those injured — Rosario Pascua, Wenceslao de la Peña, Richard Muralde, Michael Claveria, Winefred Peñalosa, Sgts. Bonifacio Grajo and Roman Albunag, and Capt. Iñigo Hesita, the UH-1H pilot — have been discharged from different hospitals here and in Villasis and Urdaneta City.

Quoting the attending doctors, Danoli said the eight sustained minor injuries.

The accident happened at about 3:15 p.m. The Arroyos arrived at about 4 p.m.

The Air Force airlifted yesterday the chopper’s wreckage. — With Rainier Allan Ronda