DAVAO CITY — Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana vehemently denied allegations that the ill-fated C-130 aicraft was defective, citing “Statement on allegations of defective equipment being purchased and used by the AFP.”
The Defense Secretary said the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are now focusing their attention “On the rescue of the survivors of the C-130 crash and all available resources of the AFP are being utilized for the ongoing search and retrieval operations.”
He called on the public to refrain from “Spreading highly speculative statements about the unfortunate incident. With the investigations of the past mishaps still ongoing, such speculations are as of yet baseless and disrespectful to the affected men and women of the Philippine Air Force, AFP and their families.”
The C-130 aircraft of the Philippine Air Force with tail #5125 figured in a mishap upon landing in Jolo.
The said aircraft took off from CJVAB to Lumbia Airport and subsequently ferried personnel to Jolo, the AFP said.-Editha Z. Caduaya/Newsline.ph