Bato last passenger of pilot who died in Ecija crash
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Bato dela Rosa on Monday said he and two of his security personnel were the passengers of the helicopter that crashed in Nueva Ecija.
The senator said he took the chopper ride to attend an «engagement» in Baguio City. The pilot picked them up in Imus, Cavite.
He later opted to travel by land in going to Binmaley, Pangasinan to participate in the coronation of the «Binibining Binmaley» (Miss Binmaley).
Dela Rosa, in a chance interview, said he did not notice anything wrong with the ride as the weather was good.
«We had a very smooth flight. We were happy during the flight. We did not notice anything unusual,» he said in Filipino.
Asked whether he requested for the pilot, Julia Flori Monzon Po, dela Rosa said, «No. She volunteered [to fly me to Baguio City].»
Dela Rosa said he and former president Rodrigo Duterte are «very close friends» of the pilot's father.
Advertisement"[She was] very experienced according to her father," he added.
