Navy pilots in helicopter crash given military honors

MANILA, Philippines – The bodies of two Naval aviators who perished when their helicopter plunged into the sea off the coast of Zamboanga City last Tuesday were brought to Manila yesterday.

On board a Philippine Airlines (PAL) plane, the remains of Lieutenant Joseph Corpuz and Lieutenant Junior Grade (LtJg) Jayrald Tamayo were offloaded to a solemn welcome at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

From the Philippine Air Force headquarters, the bodies were brought to the Naval Air Group at Sangley Point in Cavite, the home base of the victims, before their scheduled hero’s burial on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

Described as seasoned naval aviators who had participated in many combat missions and rescue operations, Corpuz and Tamayo were piloting a Bolkov helicopter with tail number PNH411 that crashed in the sea of Great Sta. Cruz Island near Zamboanga City before noon on Tuesday.

At the time of the mishap, the two, along with three other Navy personnel who survived the accident, were conducting inshore combat tactics training, said LtJg Rommel Rodriguez, spokesman of the Philippine Fleet.

Corpuz belonged to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2002 while Tamayo was a member PMA Class 2003.

“He never ceases to do good things to other people. Indeed, a very selfless man,” said Lieutenant Marineth Riano-Domingo about Corpuz.

On the other hand, Tamayo, a topnotcher in his flying class of 2008, was being eyed by the Philippine Navy to be an instructor at the Naval Air Group.