FOUR officers of the Philippine Air Force were killed and another crew member was seriously injured after another ‘UH-1D’ transport helicopter crashed in Isabela province on Wednesday, July 22, 2020.
Reports said the helicopter had just took off from a military base in Cauayan City for a night-flight exercise when it crashed minutes later.
However, the names of those on board were not yet released pending notification of their immediate families.
The crashed UH-1D is among the seven delivered units, from the total order of 21 units, purchased by the Philippine Air Force in 2013, during the administration of Pres. Benigno Aquino III at a total cost of US$28 million (over P1.4 billion).
It was the third to crash since 2017, when 3 more military personnel were killed after their UH-1D crashed in Tanay, Rizal province.
On the other hand, nine military personnel were seriously wounded when their UH-1D crashed in Sarangani province while on a rescue mission to government troops battling communist insurgents in 2015.
The deal with US-based Rice Aircraft Services, Inc. (RASI) by the Department of National Defense (DND) under Aquino’s defense secretary, Voltaire Gazmin, was the subject of a Senate probe in 2015 amidst accusations of bribery and kickbacks.
Then senator, JV Ejercito, also noted that the purchase of the over 50-year old helicopter is inconsistent with the “modernization program” of the AFP.
“The helicopter is even older than our own military generals,” he said back then.
Gazmin and his group at the DND were also charged with plunder and graft at the Ombudsman over the transaction in early 2016, before Aquino stepped down as president.
A ‘whistleblower,’ Rhodora Alvarez, had testified that upwards of 15 percent from the total purchase price was set aside as illicit commission for top defense and military officials.