Families of Cebuanos slain in Afghan plane crash grieve

CEBU, Philippines – The family of one of the six Filipinos who were killed when a cargo plane carrying NATO supplies crashed in Afghanistan said they will welcome any investigation conducted by the Department of Foreign Affairs on the incident.

Nela Padura, wife of Eduardo Padura, one of those killed during the plane crash, told reporters they welcome any investigation to clear the name of her husband.

She said she was shocked and saddened by the death of her husband but she admitted it is part of the risk of her husband's job.

Their neighbors said Padura (avionics) was a very good man and very kind to them.

But while Padura's family and neighbors granted interview to the media, the family of Ibelo Valbuena, one of the crew members of the plane, had requested the security guards of their subdivision to prevent reporters from entering.

"Mihangyo man gud ang mga tagtungod nga dili lang usa sila magpa-interview sa media," a security guard on duty who requested not to be named said.

Aside from Padura and Valbuena, the family of one of the fatalities, retired Philippine Air Force Master Sgt. Bernardo Castillo is also living inside a housing at the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base.

Geraldine Castillo said she last talked to her father on Monday.

Castillo served as a mechanic of the cargo plane that crashed in Afghanistan on October 12.

Geraldine said the surprise planned vacation they had in mind for December will no longer push through because of her father's death.

She said she and her siblings saved enough money to treat both their hardworking parents to a spa. They also plan to hold their family reunion in Boracay this December.

The family of Castillo learned the incident after a friend came to their house and told them the death of Bernardo.

According to the DFA, the plane was carrying NATO supplies went it crashed shortly after take-off Tuesday night from Bagram Air Field, the main US military base in Afghanistan.

The weather was clear and authorities are still determining the cause of the crash. But the mountains around Kabul are a notorious hazard for pilots.

DFA spokesman Ed Malaya said that the remains of the dead are currently being retrieved. "They will be repatriated in due course. That is being done by the embassy in coordination with their employers as well as our DFA Overseas Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) office," he said.

NATO earlier said the plane was an L-100 Hercules aircraft, the civilian equivalent of a military C-130.

Air Force lost 2 ex-pilots in Afghan plane crash. - Jose P. Sollano with reports from the wires/WAB (FREEMAN)