Two Ilonggos are among the 52 fatalities in the military plane crash in Patikul, Sulu on July 4, the country’s worst military air disaster in around 30 years.
Corporal Felix Provido Jr. whose father was a native of Barangay Naslo, Pototan, Iloilo died after the Lockheed Martin C-130 aircraft crashed on the island of Jolo.
The ill-fated aircraft was carrying mostly recent army graduates from Cagayan de Oro.
In an interview over radio station Bombo Radyo-Iloilo, Provido’s aunt, Gina Provido Lorca, said they are in disbelief with the soldier’s sudden death.
“Nagpangmuyo pa kami antes maglupad ang iya ginasakyan nga eroplano kag pagkatapos sang mga is aka oras nakabaton ng kami balita nga nagcrash ang iya ginasakyan,” she shared.
According to Lorca, Provido’s father was also a soldier and died in the line of duty.
“Soltero palang ni ang iya amay sang nagkadto sa Mindanao. Didto na sya nakapangasawa kag nangabuhi,” said Lorca.
Another Ilonggo-blooded military personnel who failed to survive the crash was Lieutenant Sheena Alexandrea Tato.
Tato is from Pagadian City, but her father was a resident of Jaro district in Iloilo City. She was a military nurse.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has yet to start a formal investigation into the deadly incident.
Around 96 people were recorded in the C-130’s flight manifest, including three pilots and five aircrews.IMT
