MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Choppers carrying President Benigno Aquino III and his administration allies made emergency landing on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway (SCTex) Friday morning, August 10, due to poor visibility.
“Confirming the President’s party had to make an unscheduled landing on SCTEX after visibility in the choppers deteriorated. All are safe,” said Communications Secretary Ramon Carandang.
This happened shortly before 9 a.m. Around that time, the weather bureau Pagasa reported light to moderate rains over Tarlac.
Carandang said the President was on his way to Paniqui, Tarlac to check the flood situation there. “The President’s convoy encountered heavy rains forcing the chopper to land” on the highway near San Miguel, Tarlac, he said. “There were no cars in the way. Right on the highway but no traffic was disrupted,” Carandang added.
The President’s convoy consisted of 5 choppers. He was accompanied by Carandang, energy Secretary Rene Almendras, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman, DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, TESDA director-general Joel Villanueva, Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara, and former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, according to reports.
The presidential convoy proceeded to areas in Tarlac devastated by floods.
“Despite this unscheduled landing on SCTEX, the President’s party proceed[ed] by land to visit flood victims,” Carandang added.
Aside from Paniqui, they are scheduled to visit Aquino’s hometown Capas and several town in Bataan, Pampanga and Bulacan. – Rappler.com
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