Saturday, August 30, 2008 Fishermen insist lightning hits C-130
FISHERFOLKS, who saw the ill-fated Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 Hercules Lockheed in its last few minutes, insist that there was a flash of light before they saw the aircraft plummet into the dark sea of the Davao Gulf.
A few seconds later, a thundering sound was heard.
Julie Cinco and Arturo Manigo, both residents of the coastal village of Barangay Lapu-Lapu in Agdao District, Davao City, said they were fishing in the municipal waters off the coast of their village the same night when the aircraft took off from the Davao International Airport and immediately lost radio contact with the control tower.
"Sige naman to ug kilat, tapos naay miigo sa eroplano (There were lightning then and something hit the plane)," Cinco told reporters Friday.
The fisherfolk added that after a bolt of lightning hit the aircraft, it burst into flames, with a huge part plummeting into the sea.
"Pabulusok ang bagsak ng eroplano (The plane plummeted), according to the witnesses," said Captain Rosauro Arnel Gonzales, chief of Task Force C-130.
Gonzales added that based on the testimonies of the witnesses, they are presuming that the main body of the aircraft as well as its wings, remain intact.
Since Tuesday morning, only small fragments of the aircraft have been recovered.
No survivor has surfaced yet of the nine-man team plus two army soldiers who were on board the Iloilo-bound aircraft during its ill-fated take-off at the Davao International Airport. (CPM)
