Two survivors of the Philippine Air Force C-130 aircraft crash in Sulu are thankful to God that they were given a second chance at life.
These were the words of Private First Class (PFC) Nathaniel Bongcayao, 28, and Private (Pvt) Marc Francis Carnaje, 24, who are both currently recuperating from burn injuries at the Heroes Ward of Camp Navarro General Hospital in this city.
Bongcayao, a native of Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, said in an interview that he felt God did not abandon him during the incident on July 4.
Bongcayao said he was able to get out of the burning plane after an explosion at the aircraft’s fuselage.
Bongcayao said he felt the explosion was God’s will since it provided him and the other survivors a passageway to escape from the burning aircraft.
“Kung hindi yon sumabog, patay kaming lahat. Sobrang takot ko sa mga oras na iyon (If it did not explode, we will die. I am so scared during those times),” Bongcayao told the Philippine News Agency (PNA), adding that he already thought at that time that he will die.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon binigyan niya ako ng pangalawang buhay. Hindi niya ako pinabayaan (I am thankful to God for giving me a second life. He did not forsake me),” he added.
Carnaje of Cagayan de Oro City said that he felt God guided him to escape from the burning plane.
Carnaje said he saw a light when the plane broke into half when it crashed around 11:30 a.m. on July 4 in Sitio Amman, Barangay Bangkal, Paul, Sulu.
“Noong nahati yong eroplano, nakita ko yong liwanag, doon ako tumakbo kahit nahihilo ako (When the plane was split in half, I saw the light. I ran towards it even if I am feeling dizzy),” said Carnaje, who said he is a Born Again Christian.
“Malaking pasalamat ko sa Panginoon nakaligtas ako. Tinulungan niya ako (I am really thankful to God I survived. He helped me),” Carnaje told PNA, saying he always brings a Bible in his bag.
Bongcayao was at the fuselage while Carnaje was at the mid-part of the plane during the flight from Cagayan de Oro City to Jolo, Sulu.
Bongcayao and Carnaje were also thankful to the militiamen and civilians who were unmindful of the danger by taking them to a safe distance when they managed to get off the burning plane.
Before boarding in Cagayan de Oro City, Bongcayao invited Carnaje for a selfie with the plane as the background to show their friends that they will ride a C-130 plane for the first time.
The two said they never thought their excitement will end up in tragedy.
Bongcayao, who is on his third year in military service, was previously assigned with the 36th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Madrid, Surigao del Sur and his new assignment is with the 32IB in Talipao, Sulu.
Carnaje, who just graduated from military training on June 23, was on his way to report at the Civil-Military Operations (CMO) battalion in Jolo, Sulu when the mishap occurred.
Source: Philippines News Agency