Air Force honors fallen pilots with highest aviation award

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When asked if the FA-50 jet the pilots drove was used for military airstrikes in Mindanao, the Philippine Air Force spokesperson says she cannot comment on the matter yet

MANILA, Philippines – At past 3 pm on Saturday, March 8, the remains of Major Jude Salang-Oy and 1st Lieutenant April John Dadulla landed at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, where their loved ones and colleagues were waiting.

The two were the Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots who perished after their FA-50 fighter jet crashed into mountain ranges in Bukidnon, north of Mindanao, early this week. Their jet was reported missing on March 4, and a day later, the aircraft was discovered in Bukidnon. Both Salang-oy and Dadulla perished in the accident, said the military.

From Lumbia Airfield in Cagayan de Oro City, the pilots’ remains were flown to Pasay City via a C-130 plane and given military honors by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the government. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo were in attendance.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the military’s commander-in-chief, was supposed to attend but skipped the event due to an “urgent matter,” so Lagdameo represented him instead. The two pilots were given the Distinguished Aviation Cross award, a recognition given to PAF personnel “for distinguished heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.”

PAF spokesperson Colonel Ma. Consuelo Castillo told reporters that the award is the highest aviation-related recognition given to PAF soldiers.

“Of course, the morale of the Philippine Air Force, the Philippine Air Force is in mourning right now. We are deeply saddened by this event, but then, our mission goes on,” the PAF spokesperson told reporters.

“Ongoing ang investigation. In fact, ang ating investigating team from the Philippine Air Force ay lumakad ng halos buong araw paakyat po dun sa mountain na Kalatungan upang tingnan po ang crash site (The investigation is ongoing. In fact, our investigating team from the Philippine Air Force trekked for a whole day, in Mount Kalatungan, to investigate the crash site),” she added.

Castillo said the President reminded the military of the chain of command and the conduct of a thorough probe into the incident. Meanwhile, a vigil will be held within Villamor Air Base and Basa Air Base in Pampanga to allow other PAF personnel and officers to pay respects to the pilots. The military said the pilots’ family requested privacy amid their grieving.

“After that, it will be up to the members of the family to decide where the remaining days of vigil and at the same time the interment services,” the PAF spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, apart from the law-mandated assistance to the pilots’ bereaved families, Salang-oy’s child will also receive education assistance from the Air Force, according to Castillo.

For airstrike or not?

When asked if the FA-50 jet drove by the pilots was used for military airstrikes in Mindanao, the PAF spokesperson did not give a categorical answer. “Right now, I cannot comment on that, but what we can say is your Philippine Air Force is a force provider for the operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. We provide support whenever needed to support our ground troops.”

The fighter jet went missing around the same time the armed forces launched military airstrikes in the Pantaron mountain range in Northern Mindanao on Tuesday, March 4.

Philippine Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade commander Colonel Antonio Duluan Jr. said they requested support from PAF to soften the defenses of alleged New People’s Army rebels near Cabanglasan town, located in the mountain range.

Duluan said the airstrikes happened between 1 am to 2 am on March 4. Earlier, Philippine Army 4th Infantry Division Major General Michele Anayron said they could not confirm whether the crashed aircraft were used for the airstrikes. – Rappler.com