Planeside honors were given to a Negrense Philippine Air Force pilot who died in a helicopter crash in Capas, Tarlac, at the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental, Wednesday morning, June 30.
Maj. Eraño Belen, 34, of the Philippine Air Force died along with five others when the S70i Black Hawk helicopter they were on board crashed during a night flight training on June 23,
Maj. Cenon Pancito III, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, said.
The remains of Belen, who is a native of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, was brought to his residence in Barangay Alijis, Bacolod City, Pancito said.
He graduated valedictorian of the Philippine Military Academy Masidlak Class of 2010.
He will be buried at Heavens Gate Cemetery in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 4.*