GMA aides survive Benguet chopper crash

BANAUE, Ifugao — An 11-man advance party of President Arroyo narrowly escaped death on Friday after the Air Force Bell 250 helicopter they were on slammed into a thickly forested slope of the Cordillera mountains in Bokod, Benguet.

Brig. Gen. Rodolfo Alvarado, commanding officer of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said the group consisted of one member of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and 10 members of the Presidential Security Group (PSG).

Alvarado identified the survivors as Air Force pilot Capt. Nomer Tomeza and his co-pilot Lt. Fernando Manoso, Clark Alcantara of the PMS, Capt. Hilario Bahia, Senior Inspector Rolando Balasabas, PO3 Cipriano Beltran Jr., S/Sgt. Romeo Balisacao, one Chief Inspector Daca, one Inspector Tacobanza and a certain Airman 1st Class Frial, all members of the PSG.

Still in critical condition is Staff Sgt. Peter Bersola who is expected to be transferred to the Military Hospital along V. Luna in Quezon City from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Station Hospital.

All the other passengers were already evacuated to the PMA Station Hospital from where President Arroyo is expected to take off for Asipulo town in Ifugao today.

Alvarado said the group was on its way to Asipulo which Mrs. Arroyo will visit to fulfill a promise she made when she was still vice president.

Helicopter No. 323 of the 505th Wing of the Air Force Search and Rescue Group based in Villamor Air Base crash landed on a steep and rocky slope in Barangay Ekip in Bokod near the foot of Mt. Pulag, the highest peak in Luzon, Alvarado said.

Alvarado said the chopper slammed into the slope due to a sudden change of weather which resulted in poor visibility just as the chopper was negotiating Mt. Pulag.

Alvarado personally led the search and rescue operations, including a 10-hour mountain trek, for the survivors. He lauded the skill of the pilot in landing the chopper although the aircraft itself was a total wreck.

Despite the near-fatal accident, however, the President is expected to push through with the planned visit with First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.