3 PAF men die in fiery car crash

MANILA, Philippines — Three personnel of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) died after their vehicle crashed into concrete barriers along EDSA and then caught fire yesterday.

The victims were traveling along the southbound lane of EDSA when the Honda City they were riding rammed several concrete barriers near the P. Tuazon tunnel in Barangay Bagong Lipunan ng Crame at around 1:59 a.m.

Lt. Col. Elizabeth Jasmin, Cubao police station commander, said motorists who witnessed the accident approached the car and rescued the driver.

The rescuers were attempting to take out three other people inside the car who were unconscious when the vehicle burst into flames and burned the victims to death.

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel put out the flames at around 2:16 a.m.

Authorities named the fatalities as Airmen First Class Aaron Cabarle, 25; Mark Angelo Sabado, 27, and Kyle Justine Velasco, 25, who were identified through the identification cards recovered from their bodies.

The driver and lone survivor, Airman Second Class Manuel Ognes Jr., 27, was brought to a hospital for medical treatment of his injuries.

Ognes told probers they were on their way back to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City from a drinking binge in Quezon City to celebrate the anniversary of their fifth year in the service before the accident.

The BFP said the fire destroyed P200,000 worth of property.