Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said at least 17 soldiers died, 40 rescued in crash of C130H military plane in Patikul, Sulu on Sunday morning, July 4.
The military plane was carrying 92 soldiers, most were new graduates from military training, that crashed in Patikul, Sulu.
15 people have been rescued from the burning wreckage of the C-130H, General Cirilito Sobejana told media.
“Responders are at the site now, we are praying we can save more lives,” Sobejana said.
Many of the passengers had recently graduated from basic military training, and were being deployed to the conflict-ridden Sulu island as part of a joint task force fighting terrorism in the Muslim-majority region.