6 soldiers killed in C-130 crash in Sulu brought to Cagayan de Oro
Personnel from the Army’s 4th Infantry Division carry the flag-draped metal caskets of the six soldiers who died in the crash of a C-130 transport plane in Sulu on Sunday. Their remains were given full military honors on arrival at the Lumbia airfield in Cagayan de Oro City on Wednesday, July 7. (Jigger Jerusalem)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Six Army soldiers who were killed in the crash of a Philippine Air Force C-130 transport plane in Sulu on Sunday were given full military honors on arrival here on Wednesday (July 7).
The soldiers’ remains, contained in metal caskets, were transported by an Air Force C-295 medium transport plane from Zamboanga City which landed at the Lumbia airfield.
Their colleagues from the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) carried down and lined the caskets at the airfield’s apron for the honor ceremony with ranking officials from the Army, police, and Air Force saluting each.
After the rites, the caskets were then brought to the 4ID’s mortuary in Patag village so the bodies could be transferred to flag-draped coffins and brought to the camp’s gymnasium where families and relatives were waiting.
A vigil for the six soldiers will be held at the 4ID camp Wednesday evening before they will be brought to their respective homes on Thursday.
Maj. Francisco Garello Jr., 4ID spokesperson, identified the six soldiers as Sgt. Butch Maestro Balingoan, Misamis Oriental; Pvt. Vic Monera of Maramag, Bukidnon; Pvt. Raymar Carmona of Agusan del Norte; Pvt. Mel Mark Angana of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; Pvt. Mark Nash Lumanta of Maramag, Bukidnon; and Pvt. Marcerlino Alquisar of Impasugong, Bukidnon.
Garello said 19 of the soldiers who perished in the crash are from Northern Mindanao and the Caraga regions.
Earlier, Maj. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., newly installed 4ID commander, said they have already sent the dental records of the soldiers who were brought to Sulu on Sunday to speed up the identification of the charred remains of those who died in the crash.
The soldiers trained with the 4ID before their deployment to Sulu.
