Samar mayor seriously injured in chopper crash

LAOANG, NORTHERN SAMAR , Philippines  â€” Three candidates of the local National Unity Party (NUP) here narrowly escaped death last Monday (April 6) when the chopper that was supposed to bring them to a campaign sortie in Lapinig town, crash landed just few minutes after it took off.

The police identified the passengers aboard the ill-fated chopper as San Roque town Mayor Andre Abalon, Provincial Board Member candidates Dicoroso Asinas and Panoy Pinca, and the pilot, Capt. Dino Garcia.

Asinas, Pinca and Garcia sustained minor injuries, but Abalon was critically wounded on his head reportedly caused by the rotor blades that hit him when he fell off from the chopper that tilted few feet before reaching the ground.

The victims were immediately brought to Catarman Doctors Hospital, but Abalon was ferried to Cebu Doctors Hospital in Cebu City via a military chopper before noontime on Tuesday.

Reports reaching The Freeman showed that at around 9am Monday, the NUP's provincial slate, led by reelectionist Rep. Emil Ong (N. Samar) were about to visit the province's northernmost town of Lapinig aboard three choppers. The one (RP-C7788), piloted by Garcia, was the first to take-off.

Shortly after the chopper was airborne, Garcia immediately sensed some engine trouble and decided to go back, but he failed to maneuver the chopper for a safe landing, and eventually crash landed few meters away from where it took off.

Elmer Siervo, station manager of the San Roque Community FM Radio told The Freeman that the chopper tilted to one side where Abalon was sitting, “and that could be the reason why he fell-off from the chopper and was hit by the rotor blades.” There were some reports however that said Abalon jumped off the chopper a few feet before it touched the ground.

Because of the incident, Rep. Ong decided to cancel their campaign sortie at that time.

Meanwhile, earlier that Monday morning, a truck carrying supporters of local UNA and Makabayan Party candidates in Samar figured in a road accident, resulting in the death of two persons and the wounding of several others.

UNA congressional candidate Mayor Reynato Latorre of Villareal, Samar informed The Freeman that the victims were part of those who attended their miting de avance held in Catbalogan City Sunday evening.

They were on their way back to their village in Motiong town, but upon reaching Brgy. Canligues, as the truch was about to reach the top of a sloping road, it reportedly lost its brakes, said the mayor.

"The truck's engine didn't make it and subsequently moved backward and downward, and it's a rough road, the two victims reportedly jump off the truck but were hit when the vehicle fell off the road. Worst is that it was not the truck that we rented for them; but still I admit my responsibility and we took care of the casualties and those injured who were brought to Tacloban City for medical treatment," Latorre explained. (FREEMAN)