Two Philippine Air Force officers — both women — lost their lives when their aircraft went down during a pilot training flight in the mountainous municipality of Tuba, Benguet on May 20, 2026, prompting the country’s top military commander to personally attend their wake and offer condolences to their grieving families.
Commanding General Attends Wake at Villamor Air Base
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner Jr. made his way to the Philippine Air Force Mortuary at Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base (CJVAB) in Pasay City on the evening of May 22, 2026, to pay his personal respects to the two fallen officers. The condolence visit was confirmed in an official statement released by the AFP’s Public Affairs Office under the authority of its chief, Colonel Xerxes A. Trinidad.
General Brawner’s visit was not merely ceremonial. According to the AFP Public Affairs Office, the AFP Chief honored the remains of the two officers and conveyed the solidarity of the entire Armed Forces with the families left behind, describing the moment as one of collective grief for the institution.
Members of AFP leadership and other military personnel also attended to extend their own condolences, consistent with the armed forces’ longstanding tradition of formally recognizing fallen comrades through personal and institutional expressions of mourning.
Identities of the Two Fallen Aviators
The two officers killed in the crash were identified as First Lieutenant Ruth Angelique R. Pasos PAF and Second Lieutenant Cherky E. Embudo PAF. Both were on what the AFP described as a routine military pilot training flight when the mishap took place over the Cordillera terrain of Tuba, Benguet — a region known for its rugged, elevated landscape and the aviation challenges it presents.
According to the AFP’s Public Affairs Office, the specific type of aircraft involved in the crash and the precise cause of the incident had not yet been disclosed in the initial official statement as of May 22. Formal investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash are expected to be undertaken by both the AFP and the Philippine Air Force.
Tuba, Benguet lies within the Cordillera Administrative Region of northern Luzon, an area characterized by steep mountain terrain that has historically posed navigational and weather-related difficulties for flight operations. The AFP statement did not elaborate further on the exact location within the municipality where the mishap occurred.
AFP Cites Courage, Dedication in Official Tribute
In its official statement dated May 22, 2026, the Armed Forces of the Philippines expressed deep institutional grief over the deaths and honored the two officers’ records of service. Colonel Xerxes A. Trinidad, Chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office, released the statement, which included a formal tribute to the fallen aviators.
The AFP statement read: “The AFP continues to stand in solidarity with the families of the fallen airmen as the nation mourns their loss and honors their service. Their courage, dedication, and sacrifice in the line of duty will remain a lasting testament to the professionalism and commitment of Filipino military aviators in safeguarding the country and its people.”
General Brawner, according to the same statement, specifically recognized the “dedication, courage, and faithful service to the nation” demonstrated by 1Lt. Pasos and 2Lt. Embudo throughout their service in the Philippine Air Force.
Female Aviators in a Changing Military
The deaths of 1Lt. Pasos and 2Lt. Embudo carry particular significance given the still-evolving role of women within the Philippine Air Force’s pilot training programs. Both officers were part of a growing cohort of female aviators who have entered the PAF’s flying corps in recent years, following the gradual opening of aviation and combat-adjacent roles to women as part of broader AFP modernization and gender inclusion initiatives.
According to AFP records and prior institutional statements, the Philippine Air Force has made deliberate progress in integrating women into pilot training programs, reflecting wider reforms within the armed forces. The loss of two female officers during an active training flight highlights both the inherent dangers of military aviation and the fact that those risks are now equally shared by servicewomen in uniform.
The training program or unit to which 1Lt. Pasos and 2Lt. Embudo were assigned was not identified in the AFP’s official statement released as of May 22, 2026.
Investigation Timeline and Next Steps
As of the publication of the AFP’s May 22 statement, no formal timeline had been announced for a board of inquiry or investigation into the May 20 crash. The AFP Public Affairs Office, according to its released statement, is the designated official source for all information concerning the incident, including any investigative findings, burial arrangements, and formal tributes.
Military aviation mishaps during training operations — while part of the understood risk framework of active flight programs — are treated as matters of serious institutional concern within the AFP. The Philippine Air Force regularly conducts pilot training missions across the country as part of efforts to maintain and expand its pool of qualified military aviators, and the loss of any officer during such exercises typically triggers formal internal review procedures.
The AFP has directed both media organizations and the general public to monitor its official channels for updates on the investigation, the formal military honors to be accorded to the two fallen officers, and the schedule of burial rites. As of the initial statement, no announcement had yet been made regarding the specific date or arrangements for the formal military funeral of 1Lt. Pasos and 2Lt. Embudo.
Full Military Honors Expected for Fallen Officers
Under established AFP protocol, officers who die in the line of duty — including those who perish during officially sanctioned training operations — are typically accorded full military honors. The Philippine Air Force is expected to release further details on the formal rites for 1Lt. Pasos and 2Lt. Embudo through subsequent official communications, according to the AFP Public Affairs Office.
Their remains were housed at the Philippine Air Force Mortuary at Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at the time of General Brawner’s May 22 visit. The AFP has not yet confirmed when the remains will be transferred to the families’ home provinces or when burial ceremonies will take place.
The Philippine Air Force, as a primary branch of the AFP, holds responsibility for aerial defense and aviation operations nationwide, with pilot training programs forming a critical component of its mandate to sustain operational readiness. The institution’s leadership has made clear that the sacrifice of 1Lt. Pasos and 2Lt. Embudo will not be forgotten.
Photo credit: SSg Ambay PA / Public Affairs Office, AFP
Originally reported by: AFP Public Affairs Office / breakingnewsnegrosoriental.com wire reports
