Aid flights to continue despite Friday crash

Despite a Huey chopper crashing in La Paz, Leyte last Friday, the airforce will continue delivering relief goods to typhoon-hit areas in central Philippines.

All pilots are rested and all aircraft undergoes maintenance checks at the Benito Ebuen Airbase in Mactan, said Maj. Gen. Romeo Poquiz in a press conference yesterday.

He said they also check whether the pilots are well-rested to avoid crashes like the one last Friday.

“There are possible factors why it crashed. It could be environmental, mechanical or human factors but let us just wait for results of the investigation,” Poquiz told reporters at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

The pilot, Capt. Aldwin Gutierrez, broke a leg and was taken to the AFP Medical Center in Manila for treatment while his co-pilot Eddie As-il sustained minor bruises.

Three air force men on board were unharmed: Staff Sgt. Cristobal Amorin, Sgt. Quirubin Perez, Sgt. Angelito Anterola and Sgt. Henry Roque.

Two social workers identified as Naome Mongaya and Danny Franco Bitara were brought to the Chong Hua Hospital in Cebu City after complaining of back pain.

Poquiz said pilots and their crew rest every five days before transporting relief goods to the affected areas.

Most of the relief missions are for remote areas in eastern Visayas.

Poquiz said the area where the helicopter crashed is surrounded by coconut trees.

Regional Director Mercidita Jabagat of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said their injured personnel are covered by medical insurance.

She said they will ask the central office to allow some of their personnel a one-week vacation leave to recover after working double-time attending to the needs of earthquake and typhoon victims in the affected areas. /Michelle Joy L. Padayhag and Norman V. Mendoza, Correspondents