Senators on Monday called for an investigation into the C-130 plane crash in Sulu as they offered condolences to the loved ones of those who perished from the Philippines' worst military air disaster in 30 years.
At least 50 people, most of whom were military personnel, were killed while 53 others were injured when a C-130 plane of the Philippine Air Force "skidded" and burst into flames in Sulu on Sunday.
"Talaga namang nakakapanlumo ang insidenteng ito sa mga Pilipinong sundalong sinusuong ang frontlines para magampanan ang kanilang tungkuling ipagtanggol at paglingkuran ang kanilang kapwa," Sen. Francis Pangilinan said in a statement.
"Habang inuudyok natin ang ganap na tulong sa mga naulila, hangad din natin ang masusing imbestigasyon sa naging sanhi ng pagbagsak ng eroplano at maghanap ng paraan para maiwasan ang isa pang trahedya," he added.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros said the government should ensure that all the benefits due the families of the victims would be released without delay, and the military men who died from the incident should be accorded proper military honors upon burial.
"It is my hope that a closer investigation of this matter will ensure the protection of our brave men and women in uniform in their future deployments," she said.
Sen. Grace Poe also said a thorough investigation must be conducted to "put in place measures to make our military planes safe."
Prior to the incident in Sulu, a Philippine Air Force Blackhawk helicopter also crashed last month while on a training mission in Tarlac, killing all six troopers on board.
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