Search continues for missing plane

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities were still trying to locate a twin-engine plane with seven people on board in Isabela after the aircraft was reported missing the other day.

Senior Inspector Eliseo Zipagan, police chief of Maconacon, Isabela, said police personnel were deployed to verify reported sightings of the plane but there was still no feedback as of press time. 

Chief Superintendent Roberto Damian, Cagayan Valley police director, said they were verifying reports that the missing plane with tail number RP-C764 and owned by Chemrad had been sighted between Barangays Flores and Reina Mercedes in Maconacon town.

The aircraft left the Tuguegarao City airport at around 8 a.m. Thursday but failed to reach its destination – Maconacon, which is just 30 to 35 minutes away by plane.

“What we have is a general idea of where the plane might be based on accounts of residents where the plane was reportedly last heard of,” Damian said.

He said search teams from the towns of Divilican and Maconacon tried to enter the thickly forested area but were stopped by non-stop rains.

Search helicopers were also stalled by zero visibility. Weather forecasters said the tail-end of a cold front prevailed over extreme northern Luzon, bringing mostly cloudy skies.

On board the plane were Captains Tomas Yañez and Reiner Ruiz, pilot and co-pilot, respectively, SPO2 Rolly Castaños, Celestino Salacup, Abelardo Baggay, Joel Basilio and James Bakilan.

There were reports, too, that the plane made a forced landing at Valley Cove in Baggao, Cagayan.     – With Charlie Lagasca and Rudy Santos