CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) - - The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Divilacan is now leading various teams that were deployed to conduct ground search and rescue operations in the "Site Alpha" or the area where the missing aircraft Cessna 206 Plane is believed to be located.

In a press briefing held today, Divilacan MDRRM Officer Engr. Ezikiel Chavez said they diverted the search operation to Site Alpha following the report of one of the deployed teams that they spotted a white object in a far mountain using a telescope.

Chavez said the search and rescue teams composed of the town’s rescue personnel, police, fire personnel, including the soldiers of the 95th Infantry Battalion are now heading towards the target site.  

He said Divilacan Mayor Venturito Bulan has also deployed 10 Agta tribesmen who are familiar in the area to accompany the town’s rescue teams in their search and rescue operations.

He said the estimated travel by foot from the area where the barangay officials recently reached will take four to six hours plus another four hours going to Site Alpha when the weather condition is good.

Chavez said the other teams will still continue their search and rescue operations in the flight path of aircraft on south western part of the Maconacon airport hoping still to find the missing aircraft aside from Site Alpha. 

Meanwhile, CVDRRMC Incident Management Commander and PDRRM Officer Atty. Constante Foronda Jr said the weather disturbance affects the supposed aerial search and rescue today using the Philippine Air Force - Tactical Operations Group (PAF-TOG) - 2 choppers.

He said the air assets of PAF-TOG 2 are on standby and will fly when the weather permits them to do aerial search. (OTB/MGE / PIA Isabela)