DFA identifies Pinoys killed in Afghanistan plane crash

DFA identifies Pinoys killed in Afghanistan plane crash

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed that 6 Filipinos died in a plane crash in Afghanistan on October 13.
DFA spokesperson Ed Malaya said the 6 Filipinos are undocumented, which means they entered Afghanistan through illegal means as there is an existing ban on overseas Filipino workers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"We would like to see a situation where there is more observance of the ban," he said..
Although the crash victims are undocumented, the DFA assured their families that it will help in the repatriation of the 6 Filipinos’ remains.
He added that the DFA wants to remind the public of the existing ban on the deployment of OFWs in the 2 countries.
He said the ban should be followed.
The Philippine embassy in Islamabad has identified the victims.
The fatalities include pilot Henry Bulos, co-pilot Rene Badilla, and crewmembers Nilo Medina and Ibelo Valbuena.  There were also two unidentified Filipinos, a certain Mr. Castillo (mechanic) and a certain Mr. Padora (avionics).
ABS-CBN Middle East News Bureau has earlier traced that Bulos was from Lipa City in Batangas and was a former Philippine Air Force pilot. ( link to abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/10/13/10/filipino-pilot-killed-plane-crash-near-kabul-traced)
According to the embassy, an Indian and a Kenyan died along with the 6 Filipinos in the plane crash.
The embassy said the 8 were passengers of a cargo plane owned by Trans Afrique of Ghana that was contracted by a US firm.
The plane was enroute from Bagram Air Base to Kabul Airport when it crashed near Kabul.
A joint Afghan-international security force is now conducting a search and retrieval mission in the area. 
The DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs has directed the embassy to help and coordinate with the victim’s employers for the repatriation of the Filipinos’ remains and ensure the entitlement of their benefits.