TRAGEDY SITE Military officers inspect the site in Patikul, Sulu province, where a Philippine Air Force Lockheed C-130 plane carrying troops crashed on Sunday. —REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines — Three more fatalities in last month’s deadly plane crash in Sulu involving a Philippine Air Force C-130 plane have been identified.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines identified them as Corporal Jemmar B. Mondido, Private First Class Lester Al T. Lagrada, and Private First Class Bensheen V. Sabaduquia.
“The AFP has already informed the families of the identified personnel as the remains are now being prepared for transport,” AFP spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala said in a statement on Tuesday.
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At least 53 —50 out of 96 passengers of the C-130—and three civilians on the ground were killed in the crash.
Most of the fatalities had to undergo a tedious identification process because the remains were burned beyond recognition. Ten more have yet to be identified.
The Philippine Army passengers of the PAF plane were recruits that were 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.