BY: ERLINDA OLIVIA PECSON TIU
PIA 8
GOVERNMENT CENTER, Palo, Leyte, September 11 (PIA) — Responders terminated at around 12:45 p.m. of September 11 the search and rescue operations for a private plane which allegedly crashed on September 10 at Barangay Imelda, Naval, Biliran.
Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council for Eastern Visayas, Director Rey Gozon said the decision was made after a thorough assessment by the various response groups from Ormoc City, Red Cross, 19th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, PNP-Naval, PPSP-Biliran, and LGU Biliran.
The decision to terminate was based on several factors, among which is the fact that the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has no information about the alleged incident and that all the flights from other airports are accounted for.
Another factor is that no trace of plane crash was observed after the conduct of air and ground survey, Director Gozon said.
Moreover, some residents near the alleged site of crash could not give an account leading to a plane crash, he added.
It may be recalled that at about 8 a.m. of September 10, the DRRM officer of the province of Biliran relayed to RDRRMC about an unconfirmed report of a private plane crash incident at the mountainous area of Barangay Imelda, Naval, Biliran at about 7:30 in the morning of the same day.
After receiving the information, PDRRMC-Biliran and LGU Naval immediately dispatched response teams composed of PNP Biliran Public Safety Platoon, Bureau of Fire Protection and DOH-RHU Naval to the alleged crash site to verify the report and conduct SAR operation.
Upon coordination with the AFP Central Command, and Tactical Operations Group-8 of the Philippine Air Force, two Huey Helicopter along with the 802nd Brigade Troops were dispatched to conduct aerial survey at the reported crash site but was unable to locate said plane due to thick forest foliage.
Meanwhile, four responders were injured after sustaining multiple bee stings on their way to the reported crash site on September 10, Director Gozon said.
Gozon identified the injured as Senior Fire Officer 2 of Bureau of Fire Protection Naval who sustained severe allergic reaction to bee stings and is now confined at the Naval Provincial Hospital; 19 years old Alfredo Berog, Jr. of the Naval Civilian Volunteer Group who also sustained severe allergic reaction to bee stings and was also admitted to the same provincial hospital.
Those who were taken to the outpatient department of Naval Provincial Hospital due to mild bee sting were FO1 Ralph Joseph Ignacio, 23 years old of BFP Naval and Jay Vincent Lapus of the Naval Civilian Volunteer Group. (PIA 8)
