MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)— Following the C-130 military plane crash in Patikul, Sulu that killed 51 people, many of whom were new soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division training unit in Malaybalay, Bukidnon, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri reiterated his call for aircraft modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“I am unfortunately starting to sound like a broken record in my call for modern aircraft and training equipment for our troops. I mourned the tragic loss of such brave and patriotic individuals. That’s what irritates me the most. We are losing so many great men and women because of outdated equipment and aircraft,” the senator said.

Thinking back on Sulu tragedy, including those who died in 2020, he said the country lost over 70 people in military aircraft accidents. Just last year, he bared that four died in Isabela plane crash in July; another four in Basilan in September; and one in Lanao del Sur in November. He, likewise, broached the seven troopers in Bukidnon who perished last January due to the aircraft’s mechanical discrepancy; and those six more who died in Tarlac just last month.

“And recently, over fifty peacemakers died in Sulu plane crash. This is one of the worst air disasters in the Air Force's and AFP's history. It’s unthinkable that we’d left our soldiers to use that 50 year-old helicopters and aircraft for so long. Aside from modernizing our aircraft and other equipment, we must also strengthen our military pilot training programs for fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft. We really need to accelerate our aircraft modernization so we can stop ruining lives and ensure that no other tragedy surpasses this one in the future,” Zubiri added.

The senator emphasized his appeal to the Department of Budget and Management to find means and funds to replace the Air Force’s aging fleet, particularly their overused and extremely old C-130 aircraft that serve as their workhorses.

Immediately following the Bukidnon air crash in January, Zubiri explained that he sounded the alarm on aircraft modernization after a short meeting with AFP Deputy Chief Florante Amano and other Air Force officials to discuss and examine their airbus upgrading plans and how the legislative can help.

As he cited deep sadness over the air tragedy, he pointed out that aircraft modernization entails not only buying state-of-the-art equipment but also providing extensive personnel training, as well as investing in simulators in order to continuously train the armed forces without risking lives.

“Once again, the Senate is ready to listen and help our military with their budget. We can do anything to ensure that what happened in Sulu is the last such accident. We have to get serious about modernizing our military. We cannot afford to lose any more lives like this,” Zubiri said. (Office of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri/RLRBalistoy, PIA-10 Bukidnon)