C-130 Hercules PAF Cargo Plane Crash in Davao
Sorry to deviate from my usual senseless ramble.
This post hit closest to home. Probably one of the most emotional and stressed days of my life. I almost lost a brother a few days ago.
August 23 – Saturday
My brother had been incessantly texting,
“Punta ako dyan bukas, pakainin mo ‘ko ha!”
“Bod, pwede pautang?
That’s my bro, very makulit. Nanay texted me if we were really going to meet. See, my brother is quite a kidder (bless him), we were having trouble believing what he’s saying in text lately. I’ve been receiving random texts from him every now and then about where he is what insane thing he was doing and what stupid insult he can think of to throw my way (that’s how we show the LOVE around here). So I was “Ok, text me if you’re REALLY here, dinner’s on me”.
August 24 – Sunday
Lo and behold, he did come! After an hour of waiting for him, he finally came. I was a bit cranky because I was hungry, thank gawd I had 6 1/2 hours of sleep that day (good ‘nuf for me). Finally, dinner. He strung along a short fellow (who’s name escapes me – don’t they ever!) - another PAF (who I though was too short to have ever qualified). He was late because his superior officer was late and he can’t leave unless they were briefed on what SOP they had to do tomorrow. My brother is serving in the PAF (Philippine Air Force) – also as PSG (Presidential Security Group).The president is due to arrive Aug 25. 30 minutes after, we hastily said our goodbyes, they have to leave – work stuff.
August 25 – Monday
I wouldn’t bore you with the details – so he did his thing. He slept only 3 hours he said, and he is due back to Manila. He said the plane left them and will be back the same day to pick them up.
The plane was supposed to take them back to Manila 3pm August 25 – Monday, but he said, the plane was having technical issues that it had to be flown to Cebu for repair. Actually, on the way to Iloilo, flying with the president’s bullet proof car they were already flying with 1 engine down. Medyo tagilig na nga lipad nila. Hindi gumagana yung isang engine.
9:00pm – He said he’ll be on the C-130 (Hercules) a few minutes from now, the C-130 that was to pick them up already left Davao.
10:04pm – “Bod, dito na kami airport. Uwi na kami…
August 26 – Tuesday
12:34am – “Bod watch ka tv.. yung susundo na C-130 sa min dpat eh nawawala, hindi makita sa radar. Kung napaaga ang sundo, nakasama na sana kami sa nawawala. Dapat kasi 9pm andito na siya pero hangang ngayon di siya makita sa radar. Blik ulit kmi dito sa (school na ng house sa kanila).”
He texted that they were back in the school that housed them and that the plane never came. They were told the plane couldn’t be found in radar, in any airport in the Philippines or the world.
Missing?
I was confused, how could a plane just disappear like that? Weird – unless…
So I just went about my business, night-shift monger that I was – I was asleep the whole morning till late afternoon.
5:00pm – I checked my phone and there it is, missed calls and text messages.
“Bod, gising ka na? Nood ka nga news yung nawawalang C-130 ng crash nga!”
“Bod, gutom na ‘ko, gusto kumain ng siopao. Punta ka dito, gutom na ako.”
Guess which text struck me first. So I quickly showered and watched the news. Indeed, the missing plane had crashed. We knew before the news broke.
Later that night we had dinner again and talked about the crashed plane and the theories we had. He was due to leave 3am the following day through RORO. All 150 of them. He said, flying special trip commercial would cost too much for all 150 of them. This was the appropriate alternative considering what just happened.
We’ll, with all due respect to the family members of the 2 pilots, 7 crew and 2 Scout Rangers aboard the C-130 plane – condolences and apologies are in order for what I am about to say – better sacrifice the 11 lives than an additional 150 lives to the tally. I am not just saying this because my brother was spared but also because their death might have been unnecessary too, all of them.
To PAF chief Cadungog – don’t say that I quote, “That is ruthless, reckless, brainless, and heartless. And I will describe him or her as a wild animal” to anyone who says that helicopters and planes of the PAF are called “Widdowmakers” or “Flying Coffins” because – THEY ARE!!!
Let’s just face it, aircrafts or what have you’s you have right now by your own admission are old (20-45 years). As you said, any aircraft used constantly but are maintained regularly will fly flawlessly. I beg to differ! First of all, the planes are used as much or more than any regular commercial plane would inevitably wear out their parts and will have to be replaced (which I don’t believe you do). These parts cost millions, which the government doesn’t provide (maybe they do but the money just don’t go to where it’s supposed to go – old story). Second, old is OLD! Any nitwit knows newer machinery or anything new that passed a certain degree of standard and maintained properly and checked regularly will function better than any old, used machine. That’s a fact!
The planes in your tarmac are as BULOK as the government we have, had and will have! I have long given up any hope of having a stable, non-corrupt and unselfish, non-self-serving government in the future. I think we have gotten so used to having this kind of government that we keep on making the same mistake of electing people of the same category into office. I do believe some politicians are good people, but not saints. Nobody can resist an easy million every now and then. I am not attacking the president personally, but a person can only do so much. In the eyes of a closed-minded Filipino (yes, I still spell Filipino with a capital “F” nowadays), nobody can do something perfectly enough. We all can’t! Damnit! Instead of fighting every President you elect and then try and oust them every couple of months – try and help! Everybit helps! Wala na tayong magagawa, bulok tong gobyerno natin. Sana kung pwede gawin nyo ang tama. Kahit kasi maliit lng nagawa mong tama, pag bawat isa me tamang ginawa – isang napakalaking TAMA n’to pag pinag sama-sama. Baka ksi, pag na konsencya yung nasa pwesto – baka maka gawa din ng tama. (Who am I kidding here?)
I don’t want to be apathetic but I can’t help it. Matagal na akong walang gana basta politika na pinag uusapan. BULOK!
Hoy! Pag bumili kayo ulit ng 2nd, 3rd, o 4th hand na eroplano, pasakay nyo kamag anak nyo! Wag nyo I sakripisyo ka pamilya namin na simpleng tao na nghahanap ng matinong trabaho na ng babayad ng tax para me pambili kayo ng magarang kotse! Kawawa na nga mga sundalo, pulis, fireman, teacher o mga ng tatrabaho sa public hospital kakarampot na nga ang sweldo buhay pa ang kapalit! Kayo’ng mga politiko kayo, ang sarap ng buhay nyo! Aircon opisina nyo, araw-araw me namamatay para sa gobyerno nyong bulok! Tapos bibigyan nyo lng ng magkano? 10K para pang palibing? PUTANGINA NYO! Sana nga matuluyan kayo ng MILF, sigurado ako, kasama na kayo sa HITLIST nila!
HINDI AKO GALIT!
Nagpapaliwanag lang
—————————————————————————-
Condolences to the families of the ill-fated C-130 aircraft:
• Maj. Manuel Sambrano, the plane’s pilot
• Capt. Adrian de Dios, co-pilot
• Flight Technical Sergeant Constantino Lobregas
• Staff Sergeant Petronilo Fernandez
• Staff Sergeant John Arriola
• Staff Sergeant Gerry Delioso
• Staff Sergeant Felix Pedro Patriarga
• Staff Sergeant Patricio Claur Jr
• Staff Sergeant Aldrin Ilustrisimo
• Coporal Sabangan Army’s First Scout Ranger
• Mstr Sgt Nebres Armys 3rd ID
ps
If you see parts of this post (grammatically or otherwise) that needs to be corrected, post it on the comments section and I will edit accordingly (Thank you in advance). My grammar is not perfect, so forgive me. Parts written in Tagalog was meant to be read by my kapwa pinoy lang… sana (para sa sira-ulo na mg ta-translate nito at mag repost). Ayoko mas lalong bumaho tayo sa paningin ng ibang bansa. Maraming salamat po.
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