“We know the people kung sino ‘yung mga namatay [who died], but of course we have to check based on DNA na sila talaga ‘yun [that the bodies really belong to them],” Faustino said in a Tuesday interview with CNN Philippines, which was aired on Wednesday.
He added it may take a week or two to identify the remains.
The July 4 crash – described as one of the deadliest air force disasters in decades – claimed the lives of at least 50 military personnel onboard the C-130 aircraft, and three civilians on the ground.
The other identified bodies have already been sent back to their hometowns.
While he noted he hasn’t been informed of the exact date yet, Faustino said the Air Force will soon release results of the investigation on the incident.
“Rest assured sa ating mga kababayan na once lumabas ang investigation, ito ay agad namin ipapasapubliko,” he said.
[Translation: Rest assured that once the results of the investigation are out, we will immediately make them available to the public.]
Last month, the black box retrieved from the plane was sent to the United States for analysis.
The device, also called a flight recorder, could help determine the cause of the tragedy.
The Sulu mishap is the latest in a string of military aircraft accidents in the Philippines.
It came less than two weeks after a newly acquired S-70i Black Hawk Utility helicopter of the Air Force crashed during a night flight training near Capas, Tarlac.
All three pilots and three crew members were killed.
Faustino said “these incidents can be avoided,” adding that the probe would help shed light on how to prevent similar occurrences.
“Kapag lumabas ang investigation, then that’s the time na ma-correct namin kung ano mang proseso, safety, maintenance, training, whatever it is,” he said.
[Translation: Once the results of the investigation are out, that’s the time we’ll be able to correct whatever flaws there may be in the process, safety, maintenance, or training that led to the crash.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 4) — Authorities have yet to identify 15 bodies recovered from the deadly Air Force plane crash in Sulu last month, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Jose Faustino, Jr. said.
