Air Force continues search for two missing pilots off Palawan

By Ronron
March 28, 2008

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has not given up in its search operations for its two pilots who remain missing after their AS-211 jet failed to be located in November 2007 while conducting maritime patrol mission over the Kalayaan Group of Islands (KIG) off Palawan province.

PAF commander Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog told reporters Friday at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City that they remain hopeful Captains Gabino Mercado, Jr. and Bonifacio Soriano III will be found.

“Every day, we conduct search missions in the area. Unfortunately, we still haven’t found them,” Cadungog said.

Cadungog said they do not make presumptions whether or not the two are already dead, citing the seven-year legal prescription for presuming missing people as dead.

“We don’t even think of presumptions. We don’t presume them to be dead, until we reach the seventh year. That’s the legal prescription,” he explained.

Mercado and Soriano were flying an AS-211 last November 26, 2007 over the Spratly’s to assist in the search operations for possible survivors of a sunken fishing vessel in the area.

But unlike their buddy AS-211, they failed to return to Puerto Princesa City in mainland Palawan.

Cadungog assured that they continue to attend to the needs of the families of Mercado and Soriano “in these trying times.”

“The commanders of those particular pilots are regularly attending to the needs and requirements of their families,” he said./DMS