Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa confirmed on Monday that he was the last passenger aboard the helicopter before it crashed in Guimba, Nueva Ecija, on 1 February.
The Robinson helicopter, with body number RP-C3424, plunged into a swamp in Purok Arimung-mong, Brgy. San Miguel, Guimba, Nueva Ecija, at around 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 1.
The accident claimed the life of the lone passenger, 25-year-old pilot Captain Julia Flori Po. The pilot was the daughter of businessman Archibald “Archie” Po, who owns the aircraft and is a friend of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Dela Rosa said the pilot offered to fly him and his two security personnel to Baguio City for an engagement.
“Hinatid lang ako sa Baguio then pagbalik niya 'yun na (I was just dropped off in Baguio, then when she returned, that’s when it happened),” Dela Rosa told reporters in an ambush interview.
When further asked if he was the last passenger dropped off by the aircraft before the tragic incident, the senator responded, “Yes, yes.”
“Very smooth naman ang flight namin going towards Baguio. Napaka-smooth at masaya kami sa flight. Wala kaming naramdamang anything unusual (Our flight going towards Baguio was very smooth. It was really smooth, and we were happy with the flight. We didn’t feel anything unusual),” Dela Rosa recalled.
Dela Rosa said he requested the pilot to drop him off in Baguio City, as he had another engagement in Binmaley, Pangasinan, later that same day.
The senator said he chose to travel by land to Pangasinan.
“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 said.
Later that day, Dela Rosa said he was informed through text messages that the chopper had already lost communication.
On Sunday, the Nueva Ecija Police Office said it conducted a rescue and retrieval operation for a chopper that crashed in the area. The pilot, who was the lone passenger of the aircraft, was declared dead at the crash scene.
Duterte, along with Dela Rosa and Senator Bong Go, visited the pilot’s wake on Sunday night.
“It really breaks my heart. I was really heartbroken when I saw the kid with a very bright future. Twenty-five years old,” Dela Rosa lamented.