Air Force chopper in Cabinet execs' convoy crashes

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) — A recently-acquired Polish-made Philippine Air Force helicopter, traveling as part of the convoy of Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, crash landed in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur on Thursday.

Capt. Franco Suelto, spokesman of the 1st Army Division, said the pilot managed to maneuver the helicopter and saved its 11 passengers, including 4th Army Division chief, Maj. Gen. Ricardo Visaya.

The chopper's crewmember, Staff Sgt. Darius Valdez and a bystander identified as Santiago Savedra were hurt. The bystander was hit by a debris from the chopper, Suelto said.

Roxas, meanwhile, sent messages to members of the media who were inquiring if he was among the passengers of the helicopter.

"Hi all. Thanks for your text queries. Secretary Volts [Gazmin] and I are safe. An [Armed Forces of the Philippines] Sokol providing area security crashed," Roxas said in a text message to reporters.

Roxas also tweeted:

thanks for the concern everyone. Volts and I are safe. We were not in the chopper that was reported to have crashed

— Mar Roxas (@MARoxas) August 7, 2014

Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Enrico Canaya said in an interview with radio dzBB that the cause of the crash around 2:30 p.m. is still being investigated.

Canaya also clarified that the chopper took a precautionary landing shortly after it took off from Marawi City en route to Cagayan de Oro City.

"Hindi ito land crash," the official said.

Canaya added that the chopper did not record any defects after it was acquired brand new in 2012.

The entire fleet of the Air Force's Sokol helicopters were grounded following the incident. - reports from Cecille Suerte Felipe, Alexis Romero and Camille Diola

Suelto, meanwhile, said that the chopper that made an emergency landing was part of a four-helicopter convoy carrying Roxas, Gazmin and Energey Secretary Jerico Petilla.

He said the incident happened about a kilometer away from Camp Ranaw.

“The helicopter barely took off when the incident happened. It was fortunate that the pilot managed to maneuver and made a force-landing,” suelto said. - reports from Roel Pareño, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Alexis Romero and Camille Diola