Air Force probes air mishap in Tarlac

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 23): Air Force probes air mishap in Tarlac

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is now probing the actual cause of the air mishap involving a W-3A "Sokol" helicopter Thursday afternoon in Tarlac.

Initial reports said the accident took place as the helicopter, with tail number 923, was on its final approach for landing at Sitio Durongawan, Crow Valley Gunnery Range in Tarlac around 1: 40 p.m. Reports were not clear as to the cause of the mishap.

The aircraft was carrying eight civilian passengers, two pilots and two crew members at the time, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a message to reporters.

"All passengers, the aircrew, and the pilots were safe. Some suffered bruises and minor injuries. The pilot-in-command however sustained a head injury," he said.

Also, Arevalo said AFP personnel in the vicinity immediately rushed to help the injured passengers with first aid treatment before being evacuated by a PAF air ambulance to a nearby treatment facility.

"As of this time, all the injured passengers are being treated at the Clark City Hospital while others were brought to the Philippine Army Training and Doctrines Command Hospital where they are undergoing check up," he said.

PAF spokesperson Major Aris Galang said the helicopter's passengers were headed to the AFP Legislative Engagement when the accident took place.

He added that the group took off from the Training and Doctrine Command in Camp O'Donnel, Capas, Tarlac.

A report coming from Congress said that one of the helicopter's passenger was House Deputy Minority leader Anthony Bravo of COOP-NATCCO Partylist. Bravo's chief-of-staff, Rene Buenviaje, confirmed that the lawmaker only suffered some bruises.

Also, among the passengers was former House Secretary General Cesar Pareja, who said he only suffered minor scratches.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1054722

Palace bolsters AFP, PNP guidelines suppressing lawless violence

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 23): Palace bolsters AFP, PNP guidelines suppressing lawless violence

Malacañang has issued a memorandum order reinforcing guidelines the military and police have been utilizing to implement measures that would suppress and prevent lawless violence from spreading throughout the country.

 

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued Memorandum Order (MO) No. 32 on Nov. 22 amid ‘sporadic acts’ of violence allegedly committed by lawless groups particularly in the provinces of Samar, Negros Oriental and Occidental, and Bicol Region.

 

“There is a need to reinforce the directive of the President in order to prevent further loss of innocent lives and destruction of property and bring the whole country back to a state of complete normalcy as quick as possible,” Medaildea said in his memorandum order.

 

On Sept. 4, 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 55 declaring state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao.

 

Three days later, Medialdea issued MO No. 03 providing guidelines for the implementation of the proclamation.

 

Under his proclamation, Duterte has directed the Armed Forces (AFP) of the Philippines and Philippine National Police (PNP) to undertake measures “as may be permitted by the Constitution and existing laws” to prevent lawless violence from spreading and escalating elsewhere in the country.

 

“To ensure respect and protection of the fundamental civil and political rights of our citizens, there is a need to reiterate the measures that the AFP and PNP can undertake during the state of national emergency on account of lawless violence,” Medialdea explained in MO No. 32.

 

He said the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall coordinate the “immediate deployment” of additional military and police forces in Samar, Negros provinces, and Bicol.

 

The AFP and PNP, as well as the Department of Justice (DOJ), have been ordered to closely coordinate with each other and other law enforcement agencies and intelligence community to intensify efforts to stop acts of lawless violence.

 

To ensure the effective implementation of the order, all local government units have also been enjoined to give their full support and utmost cooperation.

 

AFP and PNP personnel have been directed to ensure that constitutional rights of every individual shall be respected “at all times”.

 

“Any AFP or PNP personnel found violating any of the foregoing rights shall be held administratively, civilly or criminally liable therefor,” the Order read.

 

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1054730