MikeLigalig.com

By Noel Y. Punzalan and Joy P. Dimakiling

COTABATO CITY, Jan. 28 (PNA) - Rescuers have so far retrieved nine bodies from the crash site of a Philippine Air Force (PAF) plane at Virgo Subdivision here Thursday.

At least two houses were also burned while three local residents were hurt when a 12-seater PAF Nomad plane with body number 68 crashed at the heart of the residential area shortly before noon.

Cpl. Troy Fronda, one of the Army personnel securing the crash site, identified those killed as Maj. Gen. Butch Lacson of the PAF 3rd Air Division; a certain Maj. Patuboy; Lts. Valdez and Lipae; and Sgts. Lamera, Mejia, Guzom and Ordonio.

The charred body of a civilian identified only as "Inday" was also retrieved from one of the burned houses.

Civilians wounded in the incident were Guila Dumiton, Rogelio Daet, and Gapor Camlian.

The ill-fated military plane took off from the Awang airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, around 11:45 a.m. bound for Zamboanga when it mysteriously went down.

Tomas Tubo, a carpenter working at one of the houses in the area, said he and his companions heard a midair explosion prior to the crash.

An update said rescuers have also retrieved the plane's "black box recorder" that contains the last minute communication of the pilots to the Awang airport tower. (PNA)

Flying coffin strikes again!