Gov't calls for probe into ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight MH17

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government today called for a thorough and immediate investigation into the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which reportedly killed 298 people, including three Filipinos.

"The government is one with the international community in calling for the thorough and swift inquiry on this incident," Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

He said the Aquino administration, through the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), will coordinate with Ukrainian and Malaysian authorities in order to ascertain the identities of the Filipinos that were passengers on that flight.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said information released by Malaysian and Dutch authorities and the Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that three Filipinos were among the 298 people on board.

The Philippines also joins the entire global community in expressing its deepest sympathies to the families of those who perished in the incident, Coloma added.

"We offer our sincerest condolences to the families of all the victims, recognizing full well the enormity of their loss. At this difficult time, we stand with them in solidarity as one people and one country," she said.

A Boeing 777 passenger plane of the Malaysia Airlines crashed in eastern Ukraine en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur yesterday.