Helicopter crash probe findings out soon

MANILA, Philippines - The investigating body formed to look into the fateful crash of the presidential helicopter in Ifugao last Tuesday has completed gathering the evidence to determine the cause of the mishap, a military spokesman said yesterday.

Air Force spokesman Maj. Gerardo Zamudio said the investigating team led by Col. Manuel Morales has already returned from the crash site.

Zamudio, however, refused to reveal the initial findings of the investigating team on what could have caused the Bell 412 helicopter to crash, killing eight passengers and crew.

“We would want to finish the investigation first because if we give tidbits of information, the public would just connect the dots, which could be confusing and inaccurate,” he said.

He did not comment on reports that the team brought in some parts of the aircraft, along with the Global Positioning System device, which would show the flight path of the helicopter before it crashed.

Zamudio stressed the investigation would focus on, among others, material and environmental factors.

President Arroyo’s senior military aide and two Cabinet undersecretaries were among those killed in the crash.

Killed were Brig. Gen. Carlos Clet, senior military aide of the President; Press Undersecretary Jose Capadocia; Mrs. Arroyo’s appointments secretary Marilou Frostrom; 250th Presidential Airlift Wing pilots Maj. Rolando Sacatani and Capt. Alvin Alegata; Presidential Management Staff assistant director Perlita Bandayanon; Navy Petty Officer Demilyn Reyno, and S/Sgt. Roe Gem Perez.

They were supposed to serve as Mrs. Arroyo’s advance party at the inspection of the government road project in Ifugao when the chopper encountered difficulty in midair.

Authorities said the last communication they made with the chopper was through Capadocia who called up saying that it was too cloudy for the aircraft to land at its designated airport.

Their remains were brought to Manila on Maundy Thursday and were given full honors by the President and other government officials.

Alegata’s remains were cremated Saturday and flown to Davao City yesterday. Bandayanon’s remains also arrived in Davao.

Authorities said the remaining Bell 412 helicopters have been grounded as a security measure following the accident.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said experts and representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority would inspect the remaining 412 helicopters. The chopper that crashed last Tuesday was the President’s back-up chopper.

Remonde explained the grounding of the remaining helicopters under the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing is a standard operating procedure after a crash.

He said the tragedy “will not stop the President from working hard as she is used to.”

“Of course she will take more precautions but definitely that will not stop her from her very hardworking habits,” Remonde said.

An Air Force official, however, revealed the President may be allowed to choose one of the remaining 412 choppers for her use anytime this week.

He said other Air Force choppers could be used or civilian helicopters could be leased for use of the President.

Remonde said Mrs. Arroyo would attend the funerals of the eight who perished in the crash. – With Paolo Romero, Edith Regalado