KUALA LUMPUR: All 16 Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) officers and personnel, together with an EC 725 AP helicopter from the No 5 Squadron, who were deployed to the Philippines on Oct 26 for the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission, have arrived safely at Labuan Air Base on Nov 2.
In a statement, the Air Force said that it had been deployed to assist and support the Philippine government in its efforts to help its people affected by the severe floods and landslides caused by Tropical Storm Kristine.
According to the statement, the Air Force successfully completed nine flight sorties during the HADR mission from Oct 27 to Nov 1.
"These involved flights carrying 38,537 lbs (17,48kg) of aid supplies, including a boat with an engine (1,812 lbs), tarpaulin canvas (18,125 lbs) and boxed food supplies" (18,600 lbs).
"The mission's success not only benefitted the Filipino people affected by the disaster but also strengthened regional ties between Malaysia and the Philippines in the joint effort to address the impact of natural disasters. The mission’s success shows the Air Force’s commitment to carrying out the HADR”, said the statement on Tuesday (Nov 5).
The Air Force said prior to its return, its team was honoured by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at the Villamor Air Base, Pasay City, the Philippines, as a tribute for playing an important role in providing assistance to them.
Meanwhile, Philippine Secretary of National Defence Gilberto Teodoro Jr also expressed appreciation to Malaysia for its prompt response.
"Your support at that critical moment was invaluable in our recovery efforts after Tropical Storm Kristine. This proves the close relationship between our countries that is forged in times of need," he said in the same statement.
Senior PAF officers Lt Gen Stephen Parreño, Maj Gen Aristotle Gonzalez, and Maj Gen Pablo Rustria Jr., as well as the deputy head of mission of the Embassy of Malaysia in the Philippines, Norjufri Nizar Edrus, attended the appreciation ceremony.
According to the RMAF, the aircraft departed from Villamor Air Base, Manila, for Labuan Air Base at 8am on Nov 2.
"The flight took six hours, including a stopover at the Antonio Bautista Air Base, Puerto Princesa for refuelling," said the statement.
"The officers and personnel safely arrived at the Labuan Air Base at 3pm. They were welcomed by the officers and personnel of No 5 Squadron as well as the family members of the officers and personnel involved in the mission."
Previously, Bernama reported that the Air Force had deployed an EC 725 AP helicopter from No. 5 Squadron, Labuan Air Base for the HADR to the Philippines, following the Tropical Storm Kristine incident which caused severe flooding and landslides on Oct 26.
On the first day (Oct 27) of the HADR, the Air Force sent essential goods to the affected areas in the Philippines, continuing on the second day (Oct 28) to Legazpi City in the Bicol region of the Philippines, which was affected by Typhoon Kristine.
The Air Force, in a statement to Bernama, said that the second-day mission involved a flight carrying 1.3 tonnes of tarpaulin canvas for temporary tents from the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to the Bicol International Airport. – Bernama
