4 more fatalities in July 4 C-130 crash identified

MANILA, Philippines—Four more fatalities of the July 4 crash of a Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 plane in Sulu province have been identified, the military said on Friday (July 30).

They were Sgt. Jelson J. Sadjail, Cpl. Alhamin U. Salahuddin, Pfc Alzid S. Hawrani and Pfc Nazer Albaracin, according to Capt. Jonathan Zata, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief.

Their bodies were among those found inside the plane but have not been immediately identified because the remains were burned beyond recognition.

The remains of the four soldiers would be transported for proper burial, said Zata.

At least 53—50 out of 96 passengers of the C-130—and three civilians on the ground were killed in the crash.

Zata said 33 bodies have now been identified while 17 are still undergoing a tedious identification process.

Most of passengers of the PAF plane were recruits that are being sent on a mission to reinforce troopers fighting Abu Sayyaf, a homegrown terror group with links to Islamic State, which has a base in Sulu.

TSB