Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo expressed her condolences to the families of three members of the Philippine Air Foce who were killed after an accident last Thursday in Sitio Hilltop, Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal. Their helicopter crashed during a disaster  preparedness and response exercise.

The DSWD is providing additional burial assistance to the three who died and medical assistance to the officer who is confined in V. Luna Hospital in Quezon City.

Killed in action were Cpt. Christian Paul T. Litan PAF (Pilot); SSg Byron Tolosa PAF; and A1C Joseph De Leon PAF. Wounded in action was 1LT Cesar Rimas PAF (co- Pilot).  1Lt. Rimas was air evacuated to the AFP Medical Center.

“The entire DSWD leadership and staff salute the three PAF members and mourn their deaths as it happened in the conduct of their duty. The PAF has always been a strong and supportive partner of the DSWD in its disaster response actions and campaigns; its men and women committed to their job to assist us in our undertakings and efforts to provide immediate assistance to Filipinos caught in emergency situations and affected by calamities. We salute PAF officers Christian Paul, Byron, and Joseph and thank them for  their valuable contributions to our government’s efforts to help those in immediate need of disaster relief, ” said Sec. Taguiwalo.#