In a radio interview, Caap Spokesperson Eric Apolonio said air assets were being deployed in the said provinces for the conduct of search and rescue operations.
“Tuloy-tuloy naman po ang paghahanap at nahinto lang kagabi dahil madilim na. But early morning today (February 19) sigurado ‘yung team especially ng Camalig, Albay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office ay nandoon na para hanapin doon sa malapit sa search area,” Apolonio said reffering to the Cessna plane which went missing in Albay.
(The search is continuous and it only stopped last night because it was dark. But early morning on February 19, the Camalig, Albay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is already there to search near the area.)
“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin simula noong ma-declare ‘yan noong January 24 na missing. Hanggang ngayon ay tuloy-tuloy. Ngayong umaga magpapalipad pa rin tayo ng ating air assets if weather permits,” he said later referring to the other plane which was declared missing since January 24.
(It’s still going on since it was declared missing on January 24. It has been continuous. This morning, we will still fly our air assets if weather permits.)
Cessna plane RPC 1174, which was carrying six passengers, was bound for Maconacon, Isabela when the control center lost contact with it minutes after taking off.
On Saturday, Cessna RP C2080 carrying four people on their way to Manila went missing in the vicinity of Camalig, Albay.
Apolonio said authorities are conducting both aerial and ground operations in the search for the missing planes.
“Ang problema lang natin ay weather, ‘yung weather factor. ‘Pag madilim, maulap, umuulan, hindi talaga makakalipad ang mga chopper,” he said.
(Our only problem is the weather factor. ‘When it’s dark, cloudy, raining, choppers can’t really fly). (SunStar Philippines)