Soldier dies, another hurt in Lanao Sur air mishap

 

 

A soldier died and another was wounded when their rescue helicopter made an emergency landing Thursday in Lanao del Sur due to inclement weather, a military official said.

Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio, 1st Infantry Division commander, on Friday said the fatality was among the four soldiers who sustained wounds in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion in Madalum, Lanao del Sur.

The other wounded soldier, Ponio said, was part of the helicopter's rescue crew.

Ponio did not identify the fatality but said he belongs to the Army's 55th Infantry Battalion (IB) that pursued the group of Abu Zacaria, a sub-leader of Owayda Benito Marohomsar, also known as Abu Dar, one of the planners of the 2017 Marawi siege.

Ponio said the helicopter was sent to extricate the four wounded soldiers from the blast site and take them to a hospital for treatment.

However, he said the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing around 5 p.m. Thursday in Madalum, Lanao del Sur due to bad weather.

The impact could have killed one of the four injured soldiers, he said, adding that the rest of the troops aboard the aircraft were safe.

Ponio expressed his condolences to the families and friends of the “hero trooper”.

“We have done everything just to save our wounded soldier the fastest way we can through our air assets. Unfortunately, the incident happened,” he said.

“Rest assured that the benefits of the fallen trooper will be taken cared and the financial or other assistance will be given to his immediate family,” he added.

All wounded troopers are being treated in the hospital and “all are in stable condition,” the military official said.

Brig. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo, commander of the Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade, said another rescue chopper also made an emergency landing in the same area on Friday morning. (PNA)