Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro delivered President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s sympathies Wednesday following the tragic crashing of a Philippine Air Force (PAF) Super Huey helicopter on Tuesday in Agusan del Sur while on a humanitarian mission following the onslaught of typhoon “Tino,” claiming the lives of all six airmen aboard.

The tragedy immediately sparked renewed appeals from top defense officials for the urgent modernization of the country’s search and rescue capabilities.

In a statement, Castro said that the President assured that “all appropriate assistance will be extended to the affected families.”

The Department of National Defense (DND) hailed the airmen’s dedication, stating their sacrifice “will always be remembered.”

PAF spokesperson Col. Maria Christina Basco confirmed that the six personnel killed were all highly trained members of the elite 505th Search and Rescue Group. The helicopter was en route to Butuan to conduct a Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) mission following the typhoon, which has killed at least 66 people, mostly due to flash floods in Cebu.

The Super Huey, one of four aircraft dispatched from Davao City for the mission, lost communication at 11:37 a.m. Tuesday and was found 20 minutes later in a mountainous, heavily vegetated area near the 60th Infantry Battalion’s area of responsibility. Photos from the scene showed the wreckage engulfed in flames.

The fallen airmen included the pilot-in-command, co-pilot, crew chief, two helicopter mechanics, and a jump master. Basco noted the aircraft took off while observing wind limitations, and investigators are now looking into possible mechanical issues and weather conditions as contributing factors.

As a precaution, the remaining two Huey helicopters in the PAF fleet have been grounded pending a thorough investigation. The PAF assured that full assistance and military honors will be provided to the families.

Amid mourning the loss, Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. stressed the immediate need to upgrade the country’s search and rescue (SAR) capabilities as he also lamented the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) lack of sufficient capability assets.

“The lesson should also touch the upgrading of our SAR assets to be fast-tracked,” Teodoro said, adding that the military needs support from policymakers for upgrades that include not only air assets but also communications infrastructure.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. echoed the sentiment, stressing the need to sustain the military’s modernization program.

“We lack ships. We lack aircraft. We lack sensors. We lack firing capabilities. We lack a lot,” Brawner said. “That is why our Armed Forces modernization program is very vital in order for us to prepare for any eventuality in the future.”

In the interim, Teodoro said the government, through the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), is working to deepen its disaster assessment capabilities to lessen the heavy reliance on vulnerable PAF assets.

He confirmed the government is exploring the use of drones, though he stressed their limitations, noting that “a drone cannot carry people” and cannot perform necessary person-to-person engagements or site inspections.

Meantime, US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson also expressed condolences for those affected by typhoon “Tino” and the PAF crash, stating the United States stands ready to assist in ongoing relief efforts.