CLARK FREEPORT – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has readied its only operational C-130 cargo plane for possible repatriation of Filipino workers in South Korea whose conflict with North Korea has escalated following the latter’s missile hits on YeonPyeong island last week.
In a telephone interview with Punto, PAF spokesperson Lt. Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol said the PAF’s C-130 is on standby for any instructions to fly back Filipino from South Korea in case of an emergency situation. The cargo aircraft is operated by the 220th Airlift Wing in Mactan, Cebu.
Okol said that about 100 persons could be accommodated in one C-130 which can fly to South Korea at least twice in a day. Estimates, however, have placed the number of legitimately employed Filipinos there at about 48,000.
“It’s not only the PAF, but also the other branches of the military that could be used to evacuate Filipinos there. But then, our C-150 will be most helpful in responding to priority needs,” he said.
Okol said that it would take about nine and a half hours for the C-130 to fly to South Korea and return to the country with repatriates.
“There might be a need to refuel in Busan in South Korea if the aircraft flies directly from Cebu, but there would be no need for refueling if it flies from Laoag in the Ilocos where we have aviation facilities,” he noted.
“In such an emergency scenario, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) would work out for us the coordination with foreign governments whose territories would be involved in our operations. For example, we might need to pass over Japan so we would need an air space clearance from the Japanese government,” he explained.
Okol noted that the C-130 consumes about P337,000 worth of fuel per hour. “This may sound significant but it’s nothing compared to the safety of Filipinos we would be flying back home,” he said.
The PAF, he noted, has two other C-130. But one is undergoing “preventive depot maintenance” in the US, while the other is also undergoing such maintenance at Clark Freeport.
Okol said, however, that the government is bidding for three more C-130’s and that he expected the three more units to be purchased by next year.
Last Monday, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak warned of retaliation against any further provocation by the North.
In his first address to the nation since the missile attacks on Yeonpyeong Tuesday last week, Lee said “North Korea will pay the price in the event of further provocation.”
“Attacking civilians militarily is an inhumane crime that is strictly forbidden in a time of war… Now is the time to show action, not a hundred words,” he added.
After Lee’s announcement, his government announced its military would conduct new live fire drills on Yeonpyeong Island.
Similar live drills by South Korean troops one week earlier triggered the North Korean attack on the island. Two marines and two civilian construction workers were killed, and 18 others injured during the attack.
In a telephone interview with Punto, PAF spokesperson Lt. Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol said the PAF’s C-130 is on standby for any instructions to fly back Filipino from South Korea in case of an emergency situation. The cargo aircraft is operated by the 220th Airlift Wing in Mactan, Cebu.
Okol said that about 100 persons could be accommodated in one C-130 which can fly to South Korea at least twice in a day. Estimates, however, have placed the number of legitimately employed Filipinos there at about 48,000.
“It’s not only the PAF, but also the other branches of the military that could be used to evacuate Filipinos there. But then, our C-150 will be most helpful in responding to priority needs,” he said.
Okol said that it would take about nine and a half hours for the C-130 to fly to South Korea and return to the country with repatriates.
“There might be a need to refuel in Busan in South Korea if the aircraft flies directly from Cebu, but there would be no need for refueling if it flies from Laoag in the Ilocos where we have aviation facilities,” he noted.
“In such an emergency scenario, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) would work out for us the coordination with foreign governments whose territories would be involved in our operations. For example, we might need to pass over Japan so we would need an air space clearance from the Japanese government,” he explained.
Okol noted that the C-130 consumes about P337,000 worth of fuel per hour. “This may sound significant but it’s nothing compared to the safety of Filipinos we would be flying back home,” he said.
The PAF, he noted, has two other C-130. But one is undergoing “preventive depot maintenance” in the US, while the other is also undergoing such maintenance at Clark Freeport.
Okol said, however, that the government is bidding for three more C-130’s and that he expected the three more units to be purchased by next year.
Last Monday, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak warned of retaliation against any further provocation by the North.
In his first address to the nation since the missile attacks on Yeonpyeong Tuesday last week, Lee said “North Korea will pay the price in the event of further provocation.”
“Attacking civilians militarily is an inhumane crime that is strictly forbidden in a time of war… Now is the time to show action, not a hundred words,” he added.
After Lee’s announcement, his government announced its military would conduct new live fire drills on Yeonpyeong Island.
Similar live drills by South Korean troops one week earlier triggered the North Korean attack on the island. Two marines and two civilian construction workers were killed, and 18 others injured during the attack.
