4 charred bodies found in Basilan helicopter crash — police

Crash site of PAF helicopter in Basilan. /Isabela City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities still cannot determine the identities of the bodies inside the Air Force helicopter that crashed in Lantawan town, Basilan on Wednesday afternoon, police said.

“Wala pa identity, sunog po yung mga katawan, (We have no identity of the charred bodies),” Police Lt. Richelle Perez, chief of Lantawan Municipal police station, said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net.

Earlier, authorities confirmed that the rescue chopper of the PAF’s 505th Search and Rescue Group, which has a tail number 202, crashed at 1 p.m. in Barangay Upper Manggas.

Members of the Scene of the Crime Operatives are at the crash site for investigation, Perez said.

Perez also said they are expected to meet members of the Philippine Airforce on Thursday to help in the investigation of the crash. [ac]