No 'palakasan' in flying people out of Tacloban - AFP

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Thursday denied that there is "palakasan" system in flying people out of Tacloban City, one of the hardest hit areas by super typhoon Yolanda.

AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr. said the number of passengers being carried by the military cargo plane C-130 is limited, considering the safety of the people boarding the aircraft.

"We must understand na kapag sinabing C-130 because it is a cargo plane ang ating pasahero is limited to a certain number and a certain weight na kailangan na i-maintain," Tutuan said in a TV interview.

There are reports that the relatives of military personnel affected by the super typhoon were being prioritized for the transport out of Tacloban City to safer areas via the cargo plane.

Tutaan said residents who want to fly out of Tacloban City and transfer to Cebu or Manila must line up and undergo a process before being allowed to board the cargo plane, regardless if they are relatives of government officials.

"May proseso po tayo dun. It's just that marami ang gustong sumakay hindi naman natin mapagbibigyan lahat because we have also to consider the safety of the passengers and the aircraft itself. Yun (C-130) ang ginagamit natin pag-deliver ng relief goods at saka other items na kailangan dun (typhoon-hit areas)," he added.

The AFP official appealed to the thousands of people in Tacloban to be more patient.

"So they should be just a little bit patient. Hindi naman talaga natin maisasakay lahat at one time," Tutuan said.

He also stressed that his relatives who also want to leave Tacloban are also lined up and awaiting processing.

"I have first cousins there. They are queuing also para makasakay lang dito sa C-130," Tutaan said.

"Siguro matanong din natin yung mga napasakay natin...syempre yung mga hindi nakasakay you say something not good about it pero yung nakasakay makausap din natin at makita natin na sila mismo ay nakauwi na at dumaan sa proseso," he said.

For its part, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also belied reports that the people who want to get slot in the C-130 out of Tacloban are being asked to pay P900.

NDRRMC executive director Eduardo del Rosario reiterated that boarding the C-130 cargo aircraft out of the typhoon-devastated city is free.

He also advised people to approach uniformed personnel of the Philippine Air Force if they are signing up for the flight out of the city.