Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has ordered a full investigation into the military plane crash that killed at least 52 people in Patikul, Sulu on Sunday, July 4.

In a tweet, Lorenzana said the probe seeks “to get to the bottom of the C-130 incident, as soon as the rescue and recovery operation is completed.”

The C-130 Hercules military plane was carrying 96 people when it crashed after it “missed the runway trying to regain power” before noon Sunday.

“I ask everyone to join us in praying for the the pilots, crew, passengers of the ill-fated C-130 aircraft, as well as their families,” Lorenzana said.

Most of the passengers were new soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) training unit of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, most of whom were locals from Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental.

The plane was also carrying five military vehicles.

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Malacañang said it was “deeply saddened” by the incident.

“Rescue efforts are ongoing, and we are one in praying for the safe recovery of the passengers,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

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Vice President Leni Robredo, meanwhile, expressed condolences to the families of those killed during the mishap, adding that her office was ready to help in any way.

“Buo ang aking tiwala sa Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at iba pang ahensiya na kasalukuyang nagsasagawa ng search and retrieval operations (I have full trust in the AFP and other government agencies regarding the ongoing search and retrieval operations),” she said in a statement.

Other countries also sent their condolences to the Philippines on Sunday after the crash.

The C-130 incident is the second incident involving military aircrafts in less than a month. On June 23, six people were killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a night training flight. – Rappler.com