Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa confirmed on Monday that he was the last passenger of the helicopter that crashed in Nueva Ecija last Saturday.
In an interview with the press, Dela Rosa said that the pilot, Captain Julia Flori M. Po, 25, volunteered to fly him with his staff to Baguio City so they could attend the event earlier.
Dela Rosa said that the pilot’s father, Lion Air owner Archie Po, was their close friend.
“Hinatid lang ako sa Baguio then pagbalik niya ‘yun na,” said Dela Rosa.
He described their flight to Baguio as smooth, and he didn’t notice any problems during their travel.
“Very smooth naman ang flight namin going towards Baguio. Napaka-smooth at masaya kami sa flight. Wala kaming naramdamang anything unusual,” he stated.
Po even offered to transport Dela Rosa back to Manila, but the senator refused because he was still required to attend other engagements in other provinces.
After the event he attended in Baguio, Dela Rosa decided to travel back to Pangasinan via land.
“Kasi kung nagpahintay pa ako matapos ang engagement ko sa Baguio para bumaba [at] sumakay ulit, magpahatid sa Binmaley, ayaw ko masacrifice ‘yung oras dahil magsara agad ‘yung clouds dyan sa Baguio. Kaya sabi ko i-drop na lang ako. Pag drop uwi na agad siya,” he stated.
Dela Rosa was saddened by the incident, saying that Po was still too young.
“It really breaks my heart… Heartbroken ako ngayon nakita ko ang bata na very bright ang future. Twenty-five years old,” he stated.
According to the investigation, Po reportedly experienced engine issues on her way to Manila.
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